When your boss tells you to just get the train that arrives at 10:26, instead of the normal 9:30 train you get excited and think that means you have loads of time to procrastinate.
Then you discover too late that your app for the trains isn't working and that means you actually have no idea when you need to be departing (if the train is arriving at 10:26).
So you get yourself out the door and to the nearest train station. But only just as the connecting train to your destination is leaving the platform. The next one not being for another 38 minutes! Thinking fast. You run out of that station and to the next station. Hoping against hope you can catch the train departing there to your destination.
Running the normally 20 minute walk there, you arrive just as again the train is departing the platform. Kicking a step in frustration, trying not to cry from the sudden adrenaline rush that's hit your body, you think of what next to do, (because the next train isn't for another hour!).
Finally your phone app is working. This just adds to the frustration.
But you check all your options now. Google Maps tells you the bus is your best bet, if you first take the tram.
Cool. That's right outside the station. You've got some time. Since by this time you're officially late for the meeting.
The tram takes what feels like forever. But you make it to the bus stop with 3 minutes to spare.
As soon as the computer screen saying the bus is due, the bus disappears off the screen. A couple of minutes later it reappears, but not for another 30 minutes.
WHAT?!
Now, the question has to be asked, is it actually 30 minutes? Or will the original bus reappear? At this point there's no way of knowing. It's just waiting in agitated silence. With the ever growing need to use a toilet. The next question that must be asked at this point is how important is it that I'm at this meeting?
5 minutes later the bus reappears on the screen saying it's due in 5 minutes. A ripple of relief is felt among the people waiting at the bus stop. It's not just you.
The bus finally does come. And you finally do make it to that meeting. Only 45 minutes late. Absolutely bursting for the loo.
This was me Friday. Moral of the story: don't procrastinate when checking train times. Maybe get there early, so you're not freaking out that you're going to be late? Just a thought for the A-Type personality. (Or learn to not be so A-Type?)
Thankfully getting back from this meeting was a less dramatic.
Later that same day though I had to get back into town for youth group. Normally we just meet at church, which is just a 20 minute walk from where I live. But with it being May now, and the weather being warmer and the daylight hours being longer, the plan was to meet in Phoenix Park for field games and a BBQ.
Whenever I hear the word "Phoenix Park" I tend to freak. Phoenix Park is a HUGE park in Dublin. It's beautiful. But super easy to get lost in!! So there was definitely fear involved when I heard that that's where we were going to meet. But good old pride stepped in, and I decided I'd figure it out myself and not ask for help, or admit that I had no idea where in the park they were talking about.
According to Google Maps, it was right off one of the bus routes I actually use all the times, so I figured "this will be a breeze! Good thing I didn't ask for help!"
I got off the bus right at the main entrance to the park. Actually checked maps again. Realized where I actually wanted to be was further down the bus route. Cool. I have time. It's nice weather. I'll walk, no bother.
Finally what would have been 4 bus stops late if I'd stayed on the bus, I'm almost there. Pat (the pastor) calls me at this point, asking if I'm lost. Apparently people have seen me walking and there's some concern that I'm lost. (How embarrassing!) He's coming back out to look for me. I assure him I'm fine, I'm almost there. We hang up. I get to the entrance of the park. I can sense that I'm close now! But where am I actually supposed to be? There's a fork in the road. I'm close enough now that if I make the wrong choice, I'll be going in the opposite direction.
I decide to go left at the fork. I must have only taken 20 steps that way and I hear a car horn behind me. I turn to see that Pat's found me, and I am indeed going the wrong way.
Typical Jes.
Pat gives me a lift for the last 2 minutes it takes to meet up with the rest of the youth group.
Literally everyone is there. After much shaking of heads and confessions that they'd all seen me walking, and "oh Jes..." I try to not sound defensive when I ask why they didn't offer me a lift?!
After youth group is over, no one trusts me to be able to get the bus back into town (I don't understand why not!!). But after the day this has turned into, I find myself unable to object to being offered a lift home.
