Back log Blog--Written on a Slow Train

Back-log blog Written on a Slow Slow moving Train (Feb8th)

Will I ever get there??????

I was suppose to go to Montpellier to work on a collaboration on Feb7th. (well actually I was suppose to start in November….but things were not ready….)

Attempt 1

I missed my flight the other day. Something I never do! I had been away at a lab retreat three days previously and returned at night only to have to fly out for 2-3weeks the next morning. I really thought my plane was leaving at 6:55am. BUT no 6:00…..not good….we still would have been ok if.

A) I wasn’t a few minutes behind.

B) Didn’t miss the airport exit on highway (Road sings suck here!!!) ,

C) there was a closer exit after this missed exit for us to correct ourselves. (why is it when you make a mistake you do it when the next exit is sooooooooooooooooo far away….rrrrr)

D) when correcting our mistake someone else told driver to go down the wrong road …this wasn’t that bad and I screamed to correct this….

We are driving back to airport and SAJF is stressed that we are going to miss flight and I said…”Oh relax” SAJF was amazed and said, “I can’t believe you are calm about this.” Me: “We will be fine our flight is at 6:55am we are ok.” SAJF: “ NOOOOOOOO our flight is at 6.” ME: WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!! You are kidding….why didn’t you correct me.!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Yes folks I messed this time up.

We got to the airport and SAJF RAN I mean RAN!!!! To the desk…which was closed I went to another open one….and the lady called the gate….they closed at 5:20am. We were talking to this lady at 5:21am…NO JOKE!!!! I begged, I pleaded, I said we would not check bags….BUT NO!

I started crying at this point …not because I was not going…but because people would be waiting at the other end for someone not showing up. The woman I am collaborating,with, CB, is 8months pregnant….and I don’t want her waiting around an airport for NO one!

I go and change my flight for the next day!

I am crying and sooo upset and SAJF held me together.

The big problem is finding a way of contacting France to say….I am not coming.

Luckily SAJF is French and ROCKS and he went on and started looking up ways of getting their contact info. Once we got back to my room/computer. SAJF did the calling of the Group leader at his house for me …as I was a mess and he speaks French. Once I got the contact number of CB

Attempt 2

Leaving the next morning at 11:25am. I get to airport at 8:30am and I go even though it has snowed (maybe an inch total) BUT THINGS here are brought to a stop!!! And the Airport is reported shut and the morning flights have been cancelled.

I stand there waiting ….luckily before I left I emailed CB in France to warn her of all the craziness and my boss here in UK and I have been texting back and forth. (which is cute cause she just got a new mobile phone and is new to the texting thing)

I look up and our flight is told to check in at desk 91…..so we all try to manoeuvre through all of the stranded travellers. Then we wait for a while there….the girl is at the desk but not checking anyone in. Surprise Surprise they cancel it.

I leave the airport……and go to airport train station and wait for my train…..then they say it is cancelled….so I talk to a conductor and come up with another way to get home. I get on the train to London and will get off at next stop. Cross over to other platform and then wait for Cambridge train. …..I do that…..and Cambridge train is delayed 30min. Ok fine….during this time I am making all the necessary calls reporting that I am not leaving again. Then the train comes and I get on and the conductor explains what is happening. Something is wrong with train and they have to travel at half speed…plus it is the train that stops at every stop.

WOOHOOOO

All I can do is laugh.

For the last few mornings I have travelled sooo much to end up back in my room with my luggage being dragged behind me.

CB and myself agree that this is not meant to be my week of flying to France and I will now go on Sunday.

M is secretly (although he told me sooo secret is out) happy that I am still in Cambridge and we get to spend more time together. As our SAJF, CC and SM.

Will I get there……