Lost for two days in deepest Madrid!

I found an old diary of mine this morning so was able to remind myself of many occasions.  I used to be an
avid diary keeper - even the first haircuts of my children etc., but I burned them all when we moved house some
years ago.   However when reading the entry for Friday 3rd of November 20 years ago I fell about laughing as the memories  came tumbling in of a journey by Spanish Airways from Valencia to London as I came home alone for a holiday.   
I arrived at the airport in good time for the 3.45pm flight 'a Londres' but guessed after a short while that all was not well amongst the staff, so I was not surprised when a delay was announced until 5.00pm.   This hour came and went and later we had an announcement twice in Spanish and once in very bad English (so bad that nobody understood a word) telling us that our flight was cancelled owing to action by the French Air Controllers so we would be proceeding to Madrid (I thought it best not to ask why?).
 The flying time is about 40 minutes but we were unable to land for more than an hour because as the pilot explained very carefully in case we did not understand his 'perfect' English - 'we did not have a slot'.   He then continued and in worse accented English than my Spanish to explain.
...
'We cannot land for a long time - but we might hope to.
We are not Domestic yet see!
 We are not now International see?  but we are also not domestic as we do not have a slot.
Our luggage might not be unloaded as we are................repeat all above.
We will try to get to London tomorrow or the day after that!
We do not know about hotel to stay but.........DON'T WORRY THERE IS NO PROBLEM'.
                         
I don't think I will ever forget the looks of total uncomprehension/mystification on the faces of the four Spanish cabin crew when the whole load of Brits burst into applause, cheers and laughter.

Those same people were not laughing two days later when 'we couldn't get a slot'.   I was though - it was a great adventure for me and I was given a bottle of Gin and a bottle of Balenciaga Dix for helping the staff sort out all these -  by now,  belligerent Brits.
The story goes on for about three pages but only my dear one and I would think it so funny.