So, Bank Holiday weekend, and as required by English law it’s cold, wet and miserable.
Number two son has a new paper round, and as this is the first day I’m going out with him to show him where the houses are. So at 7.30 on Saturday morning we’re up and out to make the deliveries. It’s only 20 papers, but they are so heavy they have to be split it into two parts, with the second set being left have way round. How do people find the time to read three Saturday papers and all the supplements? Still it only takes us half an hour and he was paid up front.
As soon as I get back it’s time for a bit of tidying up indoors and then out into the garden to get the lawn raked and cut. Just about get it finished as the proper Bank Holiday weather descends, and spend the last 5 minutes using an electric strimmer in a heavy drizzle. Survived without being electrocuted, although I should have probably used a circuit breaker just in case.
Sunday morning it was out early to help with the other paper round. This one is a bit longer and the papers are even heavier. The round finishes about a mile from the house, so as I’ve not managed to get to the gym yet this weekend, I decide to run back. Probably did it a bit quicker than last week, but the result was identical, about 10 minutes for the run and another 10 minutes to recover. Must be doing me good.
Wednesday I had to go to Edinburgh, the flight up there was great, clear skies and smooth, the day itself was successful with a good workshop, the fun came with the flight home. The meeting ran bit late so I didn’t get to airport until just over half an hour before departure, and I was only there for about ten minutes before the flight was called. I followed the crowd, handed my boarding card in and went downstairs to the apron. The plane wasn’t ready so we stood there for about 5 minutes and then boarded. At the top of the steps I handed my card to the stewardess who looked at it and told me I had the wrong one. I explained that the lady at the gate had the other part, and she then said, no, it was the wrong flight number. I’d got on the wrong plane! This one was going to Stornaway, which is about 180 degrees in the wrong direction. PANIC!
My flight was due to depart in about 10 minutes, no sign of where it was and I had to go back into the departures lounge. When I got back, my flight was closed and the staff had gone. I explained to the lady who had passed me through what had happened and her response was ‘too late’. She then tried to contact dispatch to see what had happened to the flight and whether I was going to be able to catch it (by this point I was trying to work out whether I’d be able to swing a nights accommodation and another flight on expenses – probably not). Luckily the flight had not closed and if I was quick they were going to hold it.
There then followed an embarrassing jog through the departure lounge following my new friend, who handed me over to the guy from dispatch who had been sent to get me, and then a very brisk walk across the tarmac to the plane, which was standing at the furthest gate from the terminal. Luckily I was in seat 2A so I didn’t have to perform the full ‘walk of shame’ but even so I could feel eyes burning into the back of my head.
So that’s how I became one of those people that we all hate when waiting to leave an airport. Sorry to all my fellow passengers.
On a lighter note, I’ve mentioned my garden a few times, so this week I thought I share a few photos of the stuff we’re growing. In previous years we’ve grown tomatoes (very successful) and strawberries (total failure), but this year we’re going all out. We have tomatoes, chillies, peppers, radishes and french beans.
So, there you go, another week passes, slightly more eventful than I’d expected (and I’m back up there next week), but at least it will teach me to pay attention.
NorfolknGood
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