Cognitive Edge

Having survived the stress of checking a bag into Terminal 5, it popped up on the belt at Malpensa airport but that may have used up my quota of luck for the day. I am now enjoying the normal uncertainty of working in Italy, namely no one is at the airport to pick me up and no one is answering their mobile phones. It does always work out in Italy (well, a friend of mind once ended up in a brothel in Milan, rather than a hotel in Piacenza, but he was a Navy Officer), but I must admit to some nervousness. Either way I am heading in the direction of where I think the conference is, somewhere north of Lugano. I should make it to Switzerland, but I may end up on the park bench. The secret is not to worry (although that is difficult). I remember walking up and down the station in Milan looking for the train to Piacenza once and could not find it. It was only when I gave up, sat down and had a coffee that it appeared. Attempting to make the system works fails, adopting an it will work out philosophy has always succeeded in the past. I will now travel in the hope that it will do so tonight. If you don't hear from me by the weekend send out the search parties and drag Lago Maggiore

Comments (5)

Cheryl:

If you've dropped in for a glass with George Clooney, I'll be there.... With the amount of travelling you do, I am sure an "it will work out" philosphy is the best strategy... Always gives you some good stories anyway !

Posted by Cheryl | April 16, 2008 8:46 PM

Posted on April 16, 2008 20:46

John Caddell:

Hi, Dave,

Some years ago, after a brief career of racing through airports to make close connections, I decided that I wasn't going to run any more. If I couldn't get there in time by walking briskly to my plane, I'd just have to get the next one.

I tested this attitude with my colleague Dave Clark on a verytight connection in Detroit. The Detroit airport has the longest walks, as I recall, of any US airport. Dave and I walked the miles to our departure gate, not worrying about the time passing, and of course the plane was waiting for us when we arrived.

We got on, breathing easily, not sweating. They closed the doors behind us. Beautiful. From then on, I've always used this approach, and it's worked far better than the intermediate sprint I used formerly.

Regards, John

Posted by John Caddell | April 16, 2008 9:29 PM

Posted on April 16, 2008 21:29

Paul Tudor

So we are saying that this is a chaotic system, but with occasional flourishes of simplicity?

Posted by Paul Tudor | April 16, 2008 10:00 PM

Posted on April 16, 2008 22:00

Alex:

I live 35 minutes from Malpensa, and 45 minutes from Lugano. Next time call me, ok?

Posted by Alex | April 16, 2008 11:28 PM

Posted on April 16, 2008 23:28

Dave Snowden

UPDATE: When I stopped worrying and settled down to email, the phone rang and I was finally picked up at 2215, thanks to my printing off maps (Welsh Planning) and a Italian Driving we made it at 0115 ...

Alex I did not know, will remember next time I should have twittered

More tomorrow

Posted by Dave Snowden | April 17, 2008 12:39 AM

Posted on April 17, 2008 00:39

Travelling in hope

Comments (5)

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