Journey Times and Assumptions
Now that I think of
it, these things should not be left to guesswork. The assumption I had, and the
reality were different things, even when traversing time zones. How I could
have missed that timing escapes me, especially for a journey I have made so
many times. This time, I saw it plainly: the flight information stated 11h25,
not the 10h30 I always had in my mind and when talking to people about it.
I am looking forward
to a long journey watching Africa displayed before me as my kind of long-haul
flight entertainment. As aeroplanes do not get given speeding tickets in the
air, we did Amsterdam to Cape Town in 10h28. The scheduled duration and actual
flight time rarely align, yet I still find myself calculating based on what I
think I know rather than what the timetable actually says.
The More Immediate
Concern
Before settling into
my seat, though, there was a more pressing matter to address. Using the
customer assistance service meant I was one of the first to board the aircraft,
and I went to the toilets first before returning to my seat to check the
journey duration. It was then that I noticed the discrepancy in flight times.
The flow is low and
feels constricted. Whilst the urgency is pressing, the initiation starts late
and the duration is long, much longer than usual. However, there are times when
it suddenly seems to unclog with the greatest ease and relief. I have noticed
this in the past couple of days, and it elevates concern.
The trouble with
bladder plumbing, a consequence of prostate cancer and radiotherapy treatment,
is one I cannot ignore, even if I seem to manage it well. Though on Saturday,
as I walked back home, I found neither refuge nor respite, no place to flash my
"Just Can't Wait " card. Consequently, I wet myself. The
incontinence underwear was no match for the torrential release.
A Saving Grace
The cover of darkness
and the length of my winter overcoat became my saving grace, concealing the wet
patch on my bright red chinos and sparing me the shame and embarrassment. What
a relief when I eventually got home.
The usual dearth of
facilities for people with conditions like mine is something I navigate daily,
but Saturday reminded me how fragile that management can be. We make
assumptions about many things: flight times, the availability of toilets, our
own bodies. Sometimes reality has other ideas.
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