Coffee Helps

3.11am For the first time in my life, I join in frantic applause as the plane makes contact with the runway. Aer Lingus are my heroes. Fearless, daring, determined heroes, who have gotten me home for Christmas where so many failed. Taking off and landing using ice-caked runways and feeling the plane veer sideways was… interesting. The first time I have ever been afraid in an aeroplane. The pilot has my undying respect and gratitude. I am home!

3.20am  I skip deliriously along the halls of Dublin Airport, grinning insanely at the passport guy. Overjoyed to no longer be in Brussels Airport!

3.40am  Having found an internet connection to announce my arrival and request transport from Belfast, I discover that my transport to Belfast will be delayed as there was a bus 20 minutes ago and won’t be another until 5.20. No matter. I am happy to hang out in the nice warm airport, and perhaps drink some coffee and sing to myself. I have escaped from Brussels Airport!

3.47am  Nice girl at information desk informs me that I have read the timetable wrong and there is in fact a bus at 4.20am. Well, this can only be good news. Hurrah!

3.48am  Search for bus stop.

3.50am  Nice man in car park booth points out my stop, tells me I can buy a ticket from the driver, and informs me that the next bus is indeed at 4.20. Yippee!

3.55am  Stand at bus stop.

4.10am Start to get a little chilly but don’t care. Bus will be here soon, and anyway, at least I am not in Brussels Airport!

4.19am  Toes very cold. But no matter. Bus will be here in one minute.

4.20am Bus?

4.21am  Bus has not arrived yet.

4.22am Where is bus?

4.25am Recall that transport in Ireland is not exactly as punctual as in Korea, and decide to put my gloves on.

4.30am Still no bus. It is really very cold, now that I have had time to sober up from my happiness-induced stupor. The cold cannot hurt me, though. I am not in Brussels Airport! Life is wonderful!

4.35am Put on hat.

4.45am This is starting to get a little worrying. Put up coat hood over hat.

5am Am now jogging on the spot to stop my toes falling off, and cupping my gloved hands over my face to perform the same service for my icy nose. Bus is still not here. The charm of the other buses saying “Stand clear! Luggage storage operatin’!” in lilting Irish accents is starting to wear off. But at least I am not in Brussels Airport, eh?

5.10am Go for a little jog up and down the path. Fear frostbite. There is a complete absence of Ulsterbus buses. I think the airport staff have made a mistake somewhere.

5.12am Stupid, misinforming airport staff!!!! I was right about the next bus time all along!

5.15am There will be a bus at 5.2o. I am not going to die out here. Hold on, girl, hold on. Bus will be here in 5 minutes. I think Brussels Airport was warmer than this.

5.20am Where the feck is the fecking bus?!!! I think fondly of my time in Brussels Airport as I prepare to say goodbye to my throbbingly painful toes.

5.24am Never, never, NEVER have I ever been so glad to see an Ulsterbus bearing the name BELFAST. For a brief moment I feel sorry for the people at the next stop waiting for the Derry bus, and then I realise I don’t care any more. Get on to bus. It is warm. Driver has a Belfast accent. Brussels Airport is a long distant memory, and Dublin Airport is about to be, too. Don’t care about misinformation or lateness. I am going home.

7.30am Have not yet thawed out, but could not care less as the bus pulls into the Europa bus station. Frostbite is a small price to pay for finally being home and seeing The Sister run towards me wearing a Santa hat, and being given a welcoming packet of Tayto. Hurrah!

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