The ablative absolute

I am fond of the ablative absolute. I make no bones about it. It's a neat device. It's a Latin usage, noun together with past participle, both in the ablative case, which is usually translated literally as "with the whoevers having whatevered..." (or more fluidly as "when the Xs had Yed,")before launching into the rest of the sentence. With the Gauls having been defeated, Caesar set out for Rome. With the novel having been written (if only), the novelist danced the can-can and read The Unstrung Harp. I know there's no easy way to use it in English, but I'm just plain fond of it. And it's such a neat way to do things. Okay, okay, in Latin.

My parents' plane has been delayed by at least 3 hours. I hope that's the worst that happens.

Ah, just had phone call. They've arrived at Heathrow. _Good_.