"Just a small problem - the left engine won't start."

We got up on Saturday morning at 5:30am in order to get our United flight from San Francisco to Honolulu at 8:45am. We left the house on time, ditched the car at the long term parking, checked in the bags, sailed through security - with only the minimum of fuss around Deep Thought's insulin pump - and tucked into chocolate croissant and coffee at the food area. So far, so good.

We boarded the plane at 8:15am, settled down and started to read. At 8:45am, the plane pushed away from the gate. So far, so good again. Within five minutes we were back at the gate because the starter on the left engine wouldn't start. Maintenance is called. We passengers continue to sit. Drinks are handed out together with the Hawaii agricultural department forms. Trash is collected. Food items are offered for sale. We continue to sit. And sit. And sit. At 11:30am, we are all told to get off the plane. Maintenance has a not been able to fix the plane. We are told to get off because if we are there for another 15 minutes, United will have to feed us, and they are too cheap to do that.

The pilot says we should return to the gate at 12:30pm to hear what "the decision" has been on the flight. In the meantime, we are invited to spend some more money in the food court. We head off for sandwiches with a German couple in tow. She doesn't speak English, and his is not great, so we adopt them. He is angry in a Germanic way, complaining bitterly about useless American machines. We return to the gate at 12:30pm to hear that United is looking for another airplane, and a decision will be made at 3pm about whether the flight will go. At this point, Hubby and I are expecting to hear that we will need to return to the airport on Sunday, though we say nothing to the kids.

We sit on the floor. Hubby rearrange our rental car. Then, at 1:39pm, United announces that the plane has been fixed. We can go.

In all, our flight is delayed SIX hours.