Moli,
I understand the general point of thinking about what one is doing; but if the frequency is so congested you can't even get a Mayday out, why try and work it. There are a number of other agencies you could work in that part of the world. After all, about the only thing London Info is going to do on that trip is coordinate your squawk with Lille - - which they will fail to do on a timely basis with that much RT traffic. (note, not a dig at London who I find to be top blokes on the occassions I need to use them)