I FEEL sorry for the thousands of travellers left stranded by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano.

It must be awfully frustrating sitting in an airport departure lounge for day after day, waiting to see if the ash has cleared enough to allow you to get a flight home.

When the disruption started last week I assumed that it wouldn’t affect me as I’ve no plans to get on a plane any time soon.

But then I read something that made me redefine the meaning of ‘’soon”.

Apparently the volcano which is currently causing all the trouble – Eyjafjallajokull, since you asked – is a wee tiddler by Icelandic standards.

It’s very much the junior partner to Katla, the next-door volcano which is six times bigger. And, according to reports I’ve read, when Eyjafjallajokull spews its top, it’s a sign that the big one is ready to blow as well.

So this current disruption could be just the warm-up act for a much larger eruption which could throw flight schedules into chaos for weeks to come.

As I said, I’m not getting on a plane any time “soon”. I’m catching a flight to Belfast at the end of May – or at least I hope I am.

Perhaps the Icelandic volcanoes will upset my travel plans after all.