All right kiddies, lets do some quick and easy math with your newly Pho-British pal Becky…
Question: Becky’s flight departs from Gatwick airport at 7:10 for Barcelona. Her taxi arrives at aprox. 5:00AM to pick her up. Becky’s bags weigh 12.5 kilos (this is the useless fact, as we all know word problems have useless facts). It takes an hour to drive to Gatwick. The cab driver can not go over a maximum of 80mph (see previous parenthesis). There is 45 minutes of traffic delays. What time does Becky make it to the airport?
Answer: Let me answer your question with a question… Why is Becky now at the airport Café Nero at 9:15?… you do the math!
That’s right friends- yesterday was sublimely perfect that today of course had to begin this way. That’s what I get for sleeping, should have just pushed through it. It’s Tuesday morning and I’m exhausted and people watching at the airport. There is a Christmas tree down the hall just adjacent to the Boots Pharmacy and there are twinkle lights flashing above me which I find somewhat humorous. There’s only patches of lights on the grid ceiling and with the fluorescent lights shining around the effect is somewhat dampened. But good job Café Nero- I applaud your efforts to make the season bright. I am once again seated on a leather, brown, Nero chair- only this time I would say about 10,000 bottoms have visited it before. I just tried to write an MBA paper with no avail, so alas, blogging it is. And I do apologize because given my current condition 1. I might ramble and 2. I tend to be contemplative when I ramble- be advised..reading beyond this point is at your own discretion. (as it was before…but lets not focus on formalities)
I’m contemplating making my way over to get a Panini. Then again, we are at the airport so all basic things like ordering involve quite a deal of effort. Wheeling the bag over, digging the purse out of the one allowed carry-on, which inevitably is a larger purse to encompass the smaller purse and other basic things, like the work Dell with it’s disgustingly small keyboard. (sigh) The whole scenario reminds me of when I was doing research over the summer. I would be all set-up at a café for 4 hours and as you all know cafes and beverage consumption go hand in hand and I suppose I suffer from FSBS (female small bladder syndrome). So then you’re stuck in a bind…do you ask that man next to you to watch your lap top and belongings while you make a run for it? Do you carry it under one arm and take it with you while leaving something less significant to secure your spot by the window? Move to a new café perhaps? It’s the simple choices in life that slow me down, obviously. Packing up and moving to London was a somewhat easy decision in comparison when you have to make such hard choices, such as, do I want the mozzarella and tomato Panini or the ham and cheese?
Two hours later and I have finally located an electric outlet in the airport. Note to self: although knee- high heeled boots are fashionable, they are not ideal for the unforeseen airport mishap. (common sense really- poor feet). Lets talk about last night..how about that?
I don’t know how David Gray has managed to slip past my music radar, but I need to thank my dear friend Juan for introducing me to the wonder that is David Gray live. Last night I went to his concert in Camden and it was a great end to a busy day. Acoustic guitar, piano…I loved it! The venue was somewhat small, intimate if you will and I wish I were going again tonight.
Yesterday miracles happened. I have been preparing material for this upcoming conference in Barcelona for the last 2 months. With all the focus on attendees, meeting packets and tabulating everything down to special meal requests, such as Halal meats and pork free cuisine in Spain (never an easy task),I managed to forget to dry clean my suit- crud. So, I threw it in a bag and went to work, conveniently walked by one that was affordable and same day service right next to my office- nice! Also I managed to make it to the bank, Zara, swung by the ol’ Sainsbury to pick up a pasta salad to go during my lunch break and ended the whole day with a beautiful concert. All in all it was a pretty good day. A day where you have a moment of “please help me” and alas there was help right when I needed it. Beautiful- thank you!
Hhhmm this is somewhat of a long airport blog novel. I suppose I will leave it there and head off to the gate. Thanks for reading. Later I will tell you some more ridiculous stories. I’ll start with one which I think I will title- “Get your hands off my hot stuff!” Until then… ciao! I’m off to brush up on my Spanish and network, wahoo!
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