When things go the wrong way – or when things just stop going smoothly..

Travelling at work is a choice I have made myself and one that I can’t really complain about..in general. Sure it’s hard to be away from my loved one, it’s kinda tiring for me physically and I have to pass through the security staff at the Brussels airport (!) But it does have its ups as well. It gives me variety at work. One week at home in front of the computer mixed with next week in full throttle with meetings, interviews and various presentations. Travelling for work also gives me some miles which I can hopefully utilize next year when I’m not travelling as much – to go back home to see the family. What else? Nope, can’t really think of any other advantages this moment. You might think that I’m experiencing fancy hotelstays? Fancy dinners? Nope not really. I stay in a little cabin-room most of the time. One out of 10 times I might get lucky and get an upgrade. Dinners, nope nothing fancy about them. Sandwiches mostly. Last time I couldn’t even get a salad upon arrival at the Hotel Nordic Sea because the chef had turned off the stove. He did finally manage to arrange a cold cheese platter. Me grateful.

So, when the travelling itself actually doesn’t hold that many advantages you just want it to go smoothly. You just want to bloody get to where you’re heading. Never mind all that in between. Just let it go smoothly. Please don’t let it be another random control at the security – I’ve done everything possible to be the intelligent traveller. Liquids ready to bang up on the table, laptop out. No belts. I’m fast as a puma. Doesn’t work all the time: “English, French or Flemish?” English please.. “Can you please take your things and follow me. It’s just a routine check”. Sure..

Today – I am travelling with broken ribs. Iz painful to say the least. Trying to selfhelp myself by kicking back Voltaren and ibuprofen. Not sure if I can stand it anymore though. And anyways..I have to travel. No choice, just get over it.

My lovely one rushes home from work to give me a ride to the airport. He had a busy day so just arriving in time. We arrive safely at the airport. Brussels airport – still the Kiss and Ride department is under construction. Gotta walk around to get inside. Well..atleast there weren’t any huge car queues like last time.

I get to the counter to receive my boarding card. Already checked in to get a good seat – row 6 on the right hand side by the window. I get some kind of comfort by knowing that I almost always have the same side and a window seat so I easily can doze off. And I prefer not having to walk to the end of the plane. Easy on, easy off. We’re on tight schedules here.

“Ma’m your seat has been changed to 10 F. It’s the emergency exit row.” DAMmit. Some people enjoy sitting there for the extra leg space. But it also means you have to put all your bags up because you can’t have anything blocking the way. Today, that’s just too much for me as I want to move as little as possible to avoid pain. What are the options? “You can choose row 18 which is almost in the back end, there’s a window seat. Or there a middle seat on row 11.” Jeses..well less walking is the better option for me at this point and hopefully I can get some help to get my bag up in the compartment. Row 11 it is.. “Sorry for the inconvenience ma’m, atleast you can utilize our lounge area and also the FAST track service”. YES I think to myself, it’s not so bad. I’m really lucky to have been able to receive GOLD status with SAS EUROBONUS so I can enjoy some relaxing and VIP services. That’s really fabulous.

I walk the miles and see a lady putting a STOP sign at the FAST track entrance just as I approach it. What? I can’t use it? What’s going on? “Sorry ma’m, it’s closed at 7.30” WHAT? What do you mean closed? There’s a hord of people queuing up here and you close the fast track? “Yes, there’s no staff so you can’t use it”

GREAT. Fine. Soo much for the GOLD card. I line up. At least the queue is moving. But I probably won’t make it to the lounge as I’m already late arriving at the airport. Freaking queue..Finally done. Thankfully I pass without random alarms.

Man, only 5 minutes until boarding time. I rush to the lounge, make myself two sandwiches – hungry I am – I throw them back like I haven’t seen food in days. Put a banana and apple in my handbag and head to the gate. Just get there in time for boarding to start.

I ask the stewardess to please help me put my bag up due to my painful ribs. No problem. She helps out just fine. With a smile and all.

Ok, great. This is not so bad after all. Except for the weird smell of puke now and then hitting my nostrils. WHERE is it coming from? The old men on my sides quietly ready their newspapers. I do the same and doze of a couple of minutes. I almost always do that. It’s like the air is pouring out sleeping gas just as it’s starting to take off.

When I come alive I start to review and write down the agenda for this week and list the actions I still need to perform.

*SPLASSHHH* what the *#&%? The old man on my left somehow managed to tilt the whole freaking glass of champagne right on me. I am freaking wet. By bag is wet. This is just not my day. OUCHH my ribs hurt like hell as I try to avoid getting those last couple of drops and soaking in champagne. Yesyes..don’t drift away in connotations now..

The poor stewardess comes to try and rescue. The old man is sorry of course and tries to save the situation by putting his newspaper on the soaked chair. The stewardess offers to help me to dry up in the front and the old man thankfully says: “Move her up to business class atleast so she can sit comfortably”. She agrees. She tries to help me with napkins and laughs a little about the situation: “Well atleast it’s expensive stuff you got on your trousers” YEAH..and will you pay my drycleaning or new pants while I’m here? No I didn’t say that. But I wanted to.

So here I am, pouring my guts out on this not so smooth day. Just waiting for the next big thing to happen. Soon landing. Soon cabin. At least the bed is Hästens and I’ll sleep nicely and wake up without back pain. So what if I’ll only sleep 4 hours..