Very embarassing event

Last week I had a meeting at 8:30 in a city south of my home. Under normal circumstances this drive should take about 45 minutes. By normal I mean without traffic. Actually this is not all that normal here in the Netherlands. Anyway the night before my boss, who was also attending the meeting, warned me not to underestimate the traffic. I was somewhat insulted feeling condescended to and all that. So I left myself one hour and 15 minutes, planning to leave my house at 7:15. This turned out to be somewhat approximate as I am not all that skilled at actually leaving the house at the time I plan. But things would have gone more or less ok had it not been for an oversight in the directions to the meeting location. These indicated to take the A2 from Amsterdam in the direction of Utrecht and then, at a certain crossing of highways, to take the A27/A28 in the direction of Amersfoort. Only as it happens (and as is presumably obvious to many Dutch drivers familiar with the region of Utrecht), the A27/A28 is not signposted from the A2. First you have to take the A12. Only afterwards does the A27/A28 become apparent. Long story short I passed the A12, realized my error, turned around at the next exit and sat in a major traffic jam coming from the A2 (opposite direction) onto the A12. As I result I arrived for the 8:30 meeting at approximately 8:50. This is, in a word, not done.

I am pleased to report that my boss very graciously made no mention of the event. Although I was careful to relate the story related above to another colleague, in the presence of my boss, at lunchtime that very same day.