Leaving cosy Melbourne; watching passengers anxiously gaze into monitors. Listening to the murmurs gather as wives notice things aren't going as planned.

At first I wasn't bothered by the delay, but I find myself peering over the isles of lounges over to the double doors beneath Gate 4. Flight staff guard the doors with pursed lips, as if they are personally responsible for the delays. Once in a while a stray passenger approaches the gate to suggest their importance and to try their luck in getting in early. It's an interesting irony as I sit in the most opposite corner, sapping as much charge from an Internet kiosk as possible.

An announcement has been aired. QF29 has been delayed by a further 2 hours. Engineers have failed to rectify a problem in the 30minute window.

Suddenly I'm not so different to the other stray passengers. Not happy.