What a useless waste of space I am. Yesterday I was asked to attend a meeting in Frankfurt and take the notes to do the write up. It's a good opportunity as it is for the company I use to work for before I moved & went self employed & its to be the start of a flexible relationship whereby I help them out when they need me which could give me a steady flow of work.
To get to Frankfurt though I had to get the 6am flight from East Midland, this meant leaving my house at 2.30am in order to drive to the airport. I went to bed but didn't get off to sleep until about midnight for the number of things & to do lists running through my head. So on about 2hrs sleep I set off. I got the plane fine - only 6 passengers which makes me wonder how that can be cost effective but there you go. I even got to the meeting hotel with lots of time to spare. I met R who was having a nightmare with 2 of the attendees who hadn't realised they should of booked their own accommodation & the main hotel was full. The meeting was actually in a town called Mainz so I was set on a recci round the town in search of other hotels so I got to see some of Germany which was unexpected.
By the time the meeting started at 2pm I was flagging & infact my head kept nodding. Thankfully I record meetings so at least can rely on that & I don't believe anyone noticed me at the back, but not a good start to a new working relationship. I helped clear up after the meeting & then caught a taxi back to the airport with R. Our flights were both 7.40pm. I had been on the go at this stage for 16 hrs on 2 hrs sleep. The taxi dropped R at terminal 2 & then took me to terminal 1 which took about 20mins in traffic. I got there after 6, Que'd to go through check in, bought a sandwich to take with me & then hit security. The que was massive, there was a huge backlog of bags being scanned & then when it was my turn to pass through I beeped. I was frisked, beeped, infact the scanner didn't like any part of my trousers so I was scanned & frisked repeatedly until they decided I didn't have anything strapped to me or illegal contraband. I then had to get to my gate -furthest one typically. I reached it at 7.25, flight goes 7.40. Sorry last bus has gone, you've missed your flight and I, the airport staff don't give a shit. The plane was boarding on the otherside of the airport & after some begging she rang the airport management but apparently there was no way to get me to.the plane.
I walked off and stood crying In a corner. Once calmer sense kicked in & I went to customer services to request a change in flight. 1. This is a ticket booked through an agent, sorry it is non refundable or transferable. 2. The next flight to East Midlands is Sunday. 3. It is full. 4. I can get you a seat Monday morning.
I walked away, sat on the floor & sobbed. I know the managing director of my old company very well so in the end rang her to ask her advice. I could get a later flight that night into Birmingham for a sum of more than 500 euros. She was obviously pretty pissed off & made a comment we had cut it too fine getting back to the airport. I got my visa out & booked the flight.
I then rang t'hubby & told him not to wait up, that I was flying into B'ham and would then have to work out how to get from there to East Midlands to get my car. I expected an earful of abuse over the money & not paying enough attention. Instead I got the comment 'right its a lot of money but the most important thing is you get home safely, we will work it out' then while I am picking my jaw up off the floor, I hear him turn to the boys, tell them to go & wash their hands & to get coats & shoes on as did they fancy an adventure and being knights in shining armour to go & rescue mummy? This was greeted with shreaks of delight & next thing I know is they are coming to meet me in Bham & will take me to my car. How wrong can I be?
So 10.15 last night I landed, nearly 600 quid lighter & incredibly tired. We got home at 1.15am, me running on about 3.5 hours sleep in about 48hrs. I am both physically & mentally exhausted. I am also more than blaming myself and feel like a complete waste of space. How could I of let that happen? How stupid am I to miss a flight. I can't seem to get it right at all, ever.
I am home though & that counts.
