ABSTRACT

Introduction We teeter always on the existential edge. At any moment our quietly ordered lives can fall into chaos.All the things we have built and created, often in part to protect our lives against disruption, can fall apart. I witnessed this recently after a delayed flight to Australia – suddenly my plans and those of 500 others were thrown into disarray. Connecting flights were missed, important appointments scuppered, long cherished meetings and events would not happen. Passengers responded in varying degrees, from quiet resignation to volcanic fury.