Didn't seem to hang around for more than a few minutes anywhere today. This means, in effect almost ten hours of continuous rail travel. Pretty exhausting, even for me! Out on the 0809 from Weston, and a quick change to the 0905 to Cardiff which was awaiting departure in the Platform 1 bay. The presence of a large number of West Ham shirts persuaded me of the wisdom of getting a seat on this one, and I'm glad I did. We left a few minutes early, packed to the gills. They were a good natured bunch of fans though, and their singing was actually pretty tuneful. Given the result I don't imagine there was singing on the return journey.
Prepared myself for the journey with food and drinks, since I wasn't entirely sure what facilities were at Fishguard Harbour. Waited patiently for the 1016 - which duly arrived. A two-car Class 150 in place of the expected locomotive and coaches! It seems that short-formations on the Valley Lines along with the additional pressure of the football gave the loco hauled stock work elsewhere. Almost despaired, but couldn't really afford not to use the ticket, so hopped aboard for nearly three hours of DMU travel. Luckily the 150 was refurbished, and careful seat selection provided reasonable legroom. Not the journey I'd planned however. The service became very crowded from Llanelli onwards too with passengers for Ireland.
Some confusion over the routing of this service too. South Wales Mainline to Briton Ferry, thence via the Swansea District Line to Morlais Junction. On the return leg we were booked nearly an hour to do the 22-minute average journey from Bridgend to Cardiff. Chatting to the (always friendly and forthcoming) Arriva Trains staff revealed more confusion. The loco hauled service was supposed to go via the Vale of Glamorgan (hence the timings), but this replacement DMU was booked via Leckwith Junction and Ninian Park into Central. All very weird. Still, this meant an earlier than expected arrival - and a chance to get well away from Cardiff before the match ended.
The journey itself was pleasant enough - some quite striking scenery in West Wales, and from what I saw, Fishguard seemed like a pleasant little town. On the return leg, the tide was in south of Carmarthen, which made for some nice views too. Despite the disappointments and confusion, a fine day out with plenty of new track.
This week has flown by. Work has been hectic, but largely positive. I'm seeing progress on almost all sides right now, and generally the newly reconstituted team seems to be working well together. As appeal season approaches, I think we're doing pretty well in terms of staying on top of things too - a major improvement on last year, when chaos reigned!
After some minor drama and rather unusual (for me) sunburn at the start of the week, I settled into trying get stuff done. Another fruitful and encouraging meeting with colleagues from our software suppliers, and a really positive talk with someone who has pretty much taken back control of some aspects of life on Thursday, which made me feel happier about my lot too as a side-effect!
Today I noted that the programme for the Literary London Conference in July has been published. Lots of interest there. Lots to get through before that of course! So, for this Bank Holiday I'm planning some haulage, and hopefully a chance to see my nephew.
Strange, hot and tense afternoon and evening. There was definitely a Tenessee Williams quality to today. Things turn, unexpectedly on a sixpence. My friends amaze and astound me. My own frankness and honesty surprises me. The weather reflects the oppressive weight of events.
Sometimes, its possible to forget you're in Weston.
Woke to the promise of another sunny day. Out on the 0640, changing at Reading for economy's sake once again. Some delays on approaching London Paddington, and further frustration since the Circle was out of use once again - I have an incredible aptitude in selecting just such weekends it seems.
Set out across the City from Farringdon, and hopped on a Kent bound service at Cannon Street just as far as London Bridge. Out of the station, and along Druid Street in search of the remains of St. John Horsleydown. The short walk through deteriorating neighbourhoods ended abruptly as passing under the railway, I saw the telltale ashlar blocks and strange vents and portals of a Hawksmoor church. From the midst of the remains rises the red brick of London City Mission, the whole thing being set in a busy little park beside a small housing estate. Passed a few moments, then off again via Tooley Street to London Bridge.
Next, to Greenwich. From the station into the High Street, then a long and rather hot walk before once again accidentally stumbling upon St. Alfege. Again, a buidling on an impressive scale with particularly curious stairs at each side, a small passage running into each raised stair area. Rather incongrous lantern on the tower (tacked on in 1730 by John James it seems). Very much a working church, with a pleasant and welcoming groundsman and vicar in attendance.
Onto the DLR here, and a quick high-level glimpse of St. Anne Limehouse and St. George In The East. Alighted at Shadwell, and made the swap onto the East London Line, then the (incredibly crowded) Hammersmith & City to get to Liverpool Street. From here, a strange crabwise crawl through the oddly bleak hinterlands of the City to Commercial Street, haunted by occasional glimpses of Christ Church, Spitalfields. This time, the hoardings were down, but the work continues. Couldn't access the grounds, but managed to get some pictures of the massive forbidding spire.
Back on the hoof now across Finsbury Square and Bunhill Fields, and then via familiar old Whitecross Street to St. Luke, Old Street. Now the home of the LSO this small and rather plain Hawksmooor church still has a mighty presence. The grounds too, were slightly populous - with students writing postcards home, a merry group of singing drunks, and a colony of roadies unloading musical gear for the Orchestra - all under the shadow of the rather unnerving obelisk.
The purposeful part of my wanderings done for the day, struck out for Smithfield and a well-deserved pint or two of ESB. A hot, tiring but rewarding day of trekking. Another gallery will follow at some point...
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
