I've found that time inside an airport moves significantly slower than in the surrounding world. The queue for check-in takes at least a week and those hours waiting, delayed, in the departure lounge can seem like a lifetime. In a way its a little bit like Narnia. You enter, you live an eternity of waiting, and come out the same age as you entered albeit dazed, tired and slightly more learned for your experience.
I arrived at Manchester Airport this morning at 8.55. It is now 3.55 and the current estimated time of departure is 3pm. In general I don't mind delays; they are often inevitable and there is nobody to blame but there is something daunting about the idea of waiting for 7 hours and then getting onto a 7 hour flight. Fortunately for me, I have no connecting flight from Washington; it will be my final destination of the day.
Before I left for the airport, I was given some challenges for on the flight. I probably won't fulfil them but just to share them:
- Call a steward, ask for a cup of tea, on her return pretend to be asleep. Repeat as necessary.
- Hold onto the hand of the passenger in the seat next to you as you take off. Don't let go.
- "Fall asleep" and gradually make yourself comfortable on the passenger in the seat next to you.
A ha! It seems that my flight is being called. That means I need to finish here. After all, I can't risk continuing this on the plane as the passenger in the seat next to me may start getting nervous.
