Atraso indeterminado

Atraso indeterminado por causa das razões operacionais. Indeterminate delay due to operational reasons.

These words, uttered over the tannoy at Lisbon Airport last night, are fairly ominous to hear. The flight departed with a delay and arrived in Maputo this morning later than planned. This was a bugger for me as in the interests of saving leave days I’d intended to get some sleep on the plane and burst straight back into work. I had to plough on regardless, and it wasn’t a disastrous first day back at the laptop. By this I mean by evening time there were still vestigial positive memories of having had a joyous ten days in Portugal; spirit not completely sapped by email crud. What an amazing tonic annual leave can be; a refreshing change to the routine that is not available to billions but is appreciated by those of us who can use it. Thank you to whoever in the past fought for these rights in the countries and roles that have the luxury to enjoy them.

There is always a smattering of nuns on flights between Europe and Africa. This is a verifiable fact based on a large sample size over the years.

Home now in Maputo and ensconced back in my apartment block.