It’s been a while, but I’m off on an adventure. Visiting a new place, in a different continent, on a work trip.

I’m on my way to Senegal with Sightsavers for a meeting bringing together teams from one of our programmes in West Africa. Previous work trips have taken me to Brighton, Haywards Heath, Manchester, London, and Oslo. I’m spreading my wings.

There’s been a lot of planning – yellow fever vaccine, malaria tablets, security arrangements, brushing up on customs requirements for Senegal, some just-in-case purchases from the pharmacy. I’ve got suncream, insect repellent, and my sun hat – although I’ll mostly be in meeting rooms all week.

From Stoke to Birmingham by train (uneventful). Then Air France Flight #1165 to Paris (also uneventful), fluffy clouds, and green fields through the window. It looked to be a nice day in Northern France. We landed early with barely a bump, and I followed the yellow signs for transfers into the neighbouring terminal for my connecting flight to Dakar (even more uneventful, less than 15 minutes).

I’ve walked a couple of laps of the airport, checked out the duty-free, and admired the Christmas decorations.

I’ve ordered a cafe au lait avec un gateau au chocolat. My French was less than perfect, but I tried. The sun is streaming in through the terminal windows. I’ve got a seat in a quiet corner.

Plain sailing.

Apart from 5 scary minutes when it wasn’t….

That moment when I realised I’d left my passport and boarding pass somewhere in Birmingham airport. They had been in my hand, and now they weren’t!

That breath-stopping, heart-racing moment when I couldn’t remember where I’d left them. The panic rising, as I turned back from the gate to jog back from where I’d just come.

That holding back the tears moment, where I retraced my steps in my head. When had I last had them?

And then that life-affirming moment of joy just a few seconds later when I heard my name announced on the public address system. Come to the information desk, please!

Passport and boarding pass found. Thank you, whoever that was. Back in my possession. Placed carefully in my bag.

Breathe!

Like I said, uneventful!

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