Visitin a fellow b3tan oop north a few months back
I had cause to travel by train. Living down south in Southampton, anywhere 'central UK', let alone 'north' is a fuck of a long way away so I decided to break up the journey - travel to destination one on Thursday night, do some research for the lovely pants business on the Friday morning, and then venture north to see my friend in the afternoon. You may remember from a recent post that I have not always been ok with going outdoors by myself, let alone managing buses, trains, connections, strangers. This was an adventure, and packing Kendal Mint Cake and stout shoes, I was ready.

I suppose I should have known things weren't to go smoothly when the taxi I had booked to get me to the station half an hour early (I don't trust taxis - with good cause) didn't arrive. No problem, think I. I've plenty of time to get another. But no, every taxi in Southampton was having it's engine polished or it's wheels buffed and there were none to be had.

Panic was waving at me and suggesting it might pop in to say hi at this point, so I started to seek out neighbours with cars. Y'see, I'd booked the tickets in advance on one of those special 'It's cheap as Poundland but if you aren't on the EXACT train you said, you will be hanged by the neck bone until you are dead'. Finding a neighbour, panic beat a retreat.

Getting into neighbour's car, panic ran up and kissed me. Careering down a dual carriageway linking the city to the motorway with a manic goggle eyed chain smoking soft rock listening wannabe Stig, I thought I might never make the train but in fact be remembered only by a sorry bunch of flowers on a lamp post. Somehow, we managed to get there in one piece, I flew out of the car and into my reserved seat. That train journey passed happily - ensconced as I was in my world of books, tunes and chocolate, all was well in ancrenne land.

Next morning, I turn on the TV in the hotel to hear that there's been a train crash in the city I am staying in, and no trains are leaving today. Panic rolls out of bed and gives me a peck on the cheek - by this point we are old friends. It turns out that I'll need to get a replacement bus (aren't those words to sink anyone's heart?) but that because of this, all reservations are cancelled and I'm not tied to a particular time journey. Panic goes back to bed.

After a leisurely morning doing what I needed to, pootling round Leicester, and filling myself with food, the bus left, with me on it. Hoorah! think I. I am managing to negotiate public transport! I am all proud, and take my book about clouds out to learn what about the fluffy white things as I travel.

Noticing the passenger next to me clutch a plastic bag surreptitiously to her face, I realise I cannot sustain the illusion that I am alone and happy any longer. An occasional bad traveller myself, and with a vivid imagination, I can see myself turning up at Manchester to meet my friend all covered in the mingled contents of mine and this poor womans's stomach. Groaning softly to myself, I try to focus on the horizon and at least keep my lunch where it belongs.

Aside from the randomly directed tirade of abuse at Loughborough from a woman who had got off the bus at Leicester to make a phone call, and then wondered why it had left with her luggage, and without her, and aside from the assorted smells, inane phone calls and kicks in the back from sticky children, the rest of the journey passed without further incident. But I was the gladdest, proudest, most relieved person when I finally rolled into Manchester and saw my friend across the station...

Why did I sell my car again?
( ancrenne doesn't eat anything that can play video games, Fri 30 May 2008, 10:30, closed)

*clicks*
Nicely written, was like I was there with you.
( Cawl - King Of Wales, Fri 30 May 2008, 10:37, closed)

I like the fact
that you have a book on clouds!
( K2k6 is working with a bottle of purest yellow, Fri 30 May 2008, 10:42, closed)

The cloud book of aceness and joy
www.amazon.co.uk/Cloudspotters-Guide-Gavin-Pretor-Pinney/dp/0340895896
( ancrenne doesn't eat anything that can play video games, Fri 30 May 2008, 10:47, closed)

^have this!
Is an excellent read
( willenium ,pipe smoking manliness, Fri 30 May 2008, 11:04, closed)

@willenium
isn't it?! I just wish I had a flip top head to pour all the information into so I can remember it all :)
( ancrenne doesn't eat anything that can play video games, Fri 30 May 2008, 11:07, closed)

Coincidentally
My computer desktop wallpaper, which I have set to change every 15 minutes, is as I write, this.

Thanks, NASA!
( K2k6 is working with a bottle of purest yellow, Fri 30 May 2008, 11:15, closed)

Nice pic there
might look for that
( ancrenne doesn't eat anything that can play video games, Fri 30 May 2008, 12:18, closed)

Tis true....
She definitely looked the most gladdest, proudest and most relieved person I ever saw when I met her at the station.
( big-girl's-blouse wants a spanging pan for christmas, Fri 30 May 2008, 13:31, closed)

And there was me trying to protect your
interweb anonononymity miss :)
( ancrenne doesn't eat anything that can play video games, Fri 30 May 2008, 13:55, closed)