or do something useful for half an hour. No, when a person only has to wait another five minutes (or they think it is only five minutes), they just wait. I know from endless experience. By the time a PP arrives in all their glory, the PW is frazzled and bad-tempered. I'm now surprised when PP turns up on time. I just make plans. I will not be manipulated and controlled by PPs' lack of respect and consideration for a PW's time. PPs behave arrogantly and selfishly by making sure they get what they want. A PP doesn't even have the decency to say honestly, "I'll be half an hour late", right up front. PPs arrive and think all the charm, smiles and profuse apologises will pacify PWs. It does, for a while - on new victims. But when it continues time after time, year after year, that apology is seen as insincere and manipulative. For me, "on time" means one or two minutes before the agreed time, "late" means being there at the agreed time, and "early" means any amount of time before that. Punctuality is an agreement and integrity depends on how well we honour our agreements. Patient People Waiting unite. No more bearing the brunt of Punctured Punctuals' lack of consideration and arrogant dishonouring of their punctuality agreements. Clare Nathan 16 comments Damn I was reading your article and completely forgot about my meeting this morning. No worry I'll just SMS them. I'll put a little smiley