404. Unforeseen circumstances

 Today Miss Organiser drops me off at the airport at 7:17 sharp and let’s me get on with it. Which - truth be told - makes me a little nervous. I’m bound to have booked the wrong flight, to have got the time wrong or forgot to confirm the hotel, etc. I have pictures of myself sleeping it rough on the beach under a coconut tree, dining on rotten mangoes and having to ask the local gendarmerie for asylum.

‘Drama.’ Is all Miss Organiser has as far as comfort goes.

Then she adds on a lecturing tone something about negative thoughts having a negative creative impact like it’s going to be my fault if something doesn’t go as planned. 

She drives off and here is me on the tarmac under the already hot sun with my backpack like some unaccounted for unaccompanied minor. 

Off to work she drives. And off to a dream destination I go.

I have plenty of time so I take a wander and go in search of a coffee but before hand I pop into the tourist office to grab a few brochures. When I’m done I ask the really nice people in there where my check in desk is.

‘Oh! That airport is closed and so all flights are cancelled.’

As Miss Organiser reminded me only hours ago I am not a gullible first time traveller. I laugh and think to myself how relaxed and full of good humour the people around here are.

‘You could go somewhere else? Or maybe go by boat? It’s just over five hours.’

‘You mean it? You’re not pulling my leg?’ I say incredulous.

‘No, I am really sorry but this is true.’

His colleague comes to his rescue to handle the funny customer.

‘There is strike. Did you not get a mail?’

I do not admit that I haven’t checked my mail, that’s the kind of stuff Miss Organiser does. Not me.

‘You can go somewhere else, or take the boat?’

I decline the five hour boat trip on the ocean with desperate tourists puking overboard - I know, drama - and head to the only coffee shop in this airport.

‘Flight cancelled. Strikes.’ I write on the family group. Within seconds I have a message from Baby, moaning that she didn’t know I was flying somewhere today and one from Miss Organiser.

‘Leaving work in 5. Pick you up same place.’

Leaving me to reorganise my whole day.