How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

[zavk]

Dear friends

Instead of having breakfast in/around Cataract Gorge in Launceston I'm here in a cafe in an inner Melbourne suburb. All because I missed my flight. Was hoping meet up with Ben this afternoon but looks like I'll have to do it later in the evening.

Why did I miss my flight? Story to follow after breakfast.....

[retrofuturist]

Oh no, young Ed!

Don't let papanca ruin your breakfast!



Metta,
Retro.

[Ben]

Ah yes, and it serves me well not to have my mobile (cell) phone on my person!
Sorry about that dear zavk!
At least, it gives us a bit more time to tidy the house before the guests arrive.
My mother-in-law is visiting from Melbourne as well today, so it should be an interesting day!
Weather is beautiful. Blue sky, slight breeze, expected top: 21 deg C.
Lookng forward to your arrival, Zavk.

Ben

[cooran]

Oh Ed!

Never mind - Ben is worth waiting for! And Ben - Ed is worth waiting for also!

metta
Chris

[zavk]

Hmmmm... it looks like I'll be on the same 2.10pm flight as your mother-in-law, Ben.

So, how did I miss my flight?

- Was feeling smug that because a part of my trip is work related I didn't have to pay for the 3-day parking at the Melbourne airport, airfare, accommodation, and car hire in Launceston.

- Was feeling even more smug that I managed to weave into this trip a short weekend getaway with my partner

- Thought that I didn't have to arrive at the airport early because I had already checked in online the night before--had the option to print my boarding pass too but couldn't do it because my printer was out of toner but I thought that I could easily print it at the self-service kiosk at the ariport

- Left the house 5 minutes later than I had planned, but thought that it would be alright since the last time I drove to the airport it only took me half an hour; I had an hour to spare.

- Had to take a detour because a section of a major freeway was closed off for roadworks

- Couldn't travel quickly on the freeway because some lanes were closed off

- While trying to negotiate the traffic missed the turn off to the city bypass that was the quickest route to the airport

- Had to take a longer route to the airport

- When arriving at the car park, turned into a gantry which wasn't working

- Circled around two floors of the car park before finding a spot

- Even though I had already checked in I couldn't enter the boarding area because I didn't have my boarding pass (see above)

- Tried to print boarding pass at the self-service kiosk but it had stopped accepting requests for my flight which was departing in 10 minutes.

And that was how I missed my flight. Sigh.

[Ben]

Oh dear!
And it does look like you're on the same flight as my mother-in-law!!
If you can, just try and relax and go with the flow. You'll get here.
metta

Ben

[zavk]

Hi Ben

Yes, I'm no longer upset.

I did get very anxious up till the point at the airport when I knew for sure that I wasn't going to make my flight. If I were more accomplished in the Dhamma, I would have seen the futility of being anxious even before that. But in any case, I did feel a sense of release when I finally accepted my plight. The whole incident became quite bemusing after that.

[Individual]

Thought that I didn't have to arrive at the airport early

I think this accounts for 99% of all missed flights, because every time it happens, I've always heard that same reason.

[zavk]

Thought that I didn't have to arrive at the airport early

I think this accounts for 99% of all missed flights, because every time it happens, I've always heard that same reason.

Hahaha yes.... I think this pretty much accounts for most sticky situations that people get themselves into.

Or as the Steven Seagal flick Under Siege 2 (yes, I have seen the film) puts it so eloquently:

Assumption is the mother of all *bleep*

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg4trPZFUwc)

[Ben]

Ok, I'm going to meditate for awhile.
Please feel free to call or send an sms if you need to.
Cheers

Ben

[Individual]

Zavk, it's good to see you make light of the situation. I hope you aren't too hard on yourself and you enjoy your time with Ben, soon!

[christopher:::]

LOL, this is why my friend Larry usually tries to get to airports at least a day ahead, setting up tent and cots over by the waiting area...

airportcamping.jpg (125.37 KiB) Viewed 779 times

[cooran]

Hello Ed and Ben,




Are we there yet?

metta
Chris

[Ben]

Hi Chris

I expect Ed and his partner to be just finishing desert at the restaurant and he'll be over shortly after that.
Cheers

Ben

[zavk]

Hi friends

Launceston is beautiful. And Ben has a beautiful family. It was great meeting them. A bit of drama this morning but nothing that, honestly, wasn't self-inflicted. But I'm here now and I plan to have as nice a time as I can.

[Ben]

Thanks Ed
It was great to meet you and your partner last night!
Have a great day today exploring Launnie!
My wife's off to adult (horse) riders' club and I'll be swimming laps and hanging out with my boys.
metta

Ben

[christopher:::]

Glad to hear everything turned out well and you all got together!

[zavk]

Here's a photo of the two of us: