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

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

Post by 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.....
With metta,
zavk
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retrofuturist
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by retrofuturist »

Oh no, young Ed!

Don't let papanca ruin your breakfast!

:D

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Ben
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by 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
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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cooran
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by cooran »

Oh Ed! :console:

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

metta
Chris :group:
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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zavk
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by 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.
With metta,
zavk
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Ben
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by 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
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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zavk
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by 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. :smile:
With metta,
zavk
Individual
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by Individual »

zavk wrote: 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.
The best things in life aren't things.

The Diamond Sutra
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zavk
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by zavk »

Individual wrote:
zavk wrote: 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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)
With metta,
zavk
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Ben
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by Ben »

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

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
Individual
Posts: 1970
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:19 am

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

Post by 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!
The best things in life aren't things.

The Diamond Sutra
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christopher:::
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by 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
airportcamping.jpg (124.89 KiB) Viewed 1448 times
"As Buddhists, we should aim to develop relationships that are not predominated by grasping and clinging. Our relationships should be characterised by the brahmaviharas of metta (loving kindness), mudita (sympathetic joy), karuna (compassion), and upekkha (equanimity)."
~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009
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cooran
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by cooran »

Hello Ed and Ben,

Image


Are we there yet?

metta
Chris
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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Ben
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by 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
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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zavk
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Re: How to miss a flight (attempting to visit Ben in Launceston)

Post by 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.

:)
With metta,
zavk
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