Yesterday I was lucky enough to be stuck in Doha airport for a couple of hours. This had nothing to do with any Icelandic volcano and everything to do with a delayed FlyDubai take off in Dubai. I'd turned up at 2:30 pm to meet someone off a plane, only to learn from the arrivals board that it had still not taken off. Now before anyone tells me that following a week of total air chaos with thousands stranded for days, I shouldn't be complaining about a mere two hours, let me re-emphasise: I'm not complaining. I had a great time. In fact, I'm seriously considering adding the occasional hour in Arrivals to my routine, say once every couple of months. Because, from a vantage point close to the sliding doors, you are treated to a constant sucession of joyous reunions. Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, friends and lovers. Waiters greeting the awaited. Eager anticipation exploding in a climax of smiles, handshakes, hugs and kisses. Even tears, but so unlike the tears of a Departure lounge. It would take a hard heart indeed not to be uplifted by these tableaux.
A prefect setting for the special Arrival I was expecting...
these you have loved:
-
Beware of the Financial Advisor. It hangs around in ex-pat haunts such as Doha's Champion's Bar, listens in to conversations for hi...
-
The House of the Living Doll is a fusion of two well-known songs. Guess which ones!
-
There are two pretty good ways to weigh a car: Drive it to the nearest public weighbridge and wait your turn. Look up the manual under Gener...
-
Personally, I see no convincing evidence for the existence of supernatural beings. But even supposing I am wrong and the firmament is positi...
You could have posted this one on News of Optimism!
ReplyDeleteI firmly believe that most people are good and that Love is something they keep at the very top of their priorities.
Sadly, the minority that does not share this condition seems to somehow always manage to gain the upper hand when it comes to power.
But then, I also believe there actually is no power greater than Love.
And so the pendulum continues its indifferent swing.
Post Script:
ReplyDeleteYou should have added a fourth category to your poll below: "Frankly, I couldn't possibly care less!"
(subdued laughter from the peanut gallery)
Richard - I did consider it for N of O, but then the Spitalfields piece wouldn't easily fit here, and with only so many hours in the day...
ReplyDeleteRoyal Households, yes, who needs them?
Good for you that you saw the delay as an opportunity to observe people in one of the happiest moments possible. People watching is one of my favorite pastimes too!
ReplyDeleteThe nearby Costa Coffee stall helped too :)
ReplyDelete