I can't explain why, but I find it incredibly strange and irritating to read blog entries that begin with "So...". I'm not sure why people do that - in conversation, you do it to call for attention and fill time until you get it. In written text, having someone's attention is implicit.
Perhaps it just annoys me because it reminds me of Seamus Heaney's attempt to translate "Hwæt" in Beowulf? Perhaps I just spend too much time thinking about this stuff?
The plan was that, having been in Edinburgh I'd be just about ready for a short blast out to Westbury on the 31's - of course I didn't end up in Scotland at all. Made the best of yesterday with a circular trip to Great Malvern out via Worcester and back via Hereford (yesterday's movebook). Despite a wet start, the sun came out in time for my brief wait in Malvern, and I got some great views of the hills.
Today started equally damply. Set out to get a haircut, then directly to the station and then to Westbury. Noted a 'Wessex Trains' plate on the front of 31454 today. Interesting. Another 31 on Westbury, but too far away to see which one. Back on a packed 153 and a busy 150. Decided to do the Highbridge run (customarily a Monday task) today also. A weak but persistent sunshine had descended, making it a pleasant evening to do so.
Fixed a Movebook bug and built Mozilla 1.7b plus Epiphany 1.2.0.
Yes, the pun has been done before, but it's been one of those days. I should be in Edinburgh right now, but I'm not. Got up early, feeling groggy, and set of to Bristol to collect an Authority to Travel which Virgin Trains had faxed to the station in lieu of the undelivered tickets. Queued among throngs of Cheltenham Festival bound racegoers. Finally got letter - details were for the wrong train - a problem I thought I'd sorted out with Customer Services yesterday.
Called them and queued again - no fax arrived. 0928 service came and went. Customer Services advised checking with the Train Manager and the travelling on the 0958. Staff at the ticket gate detained me querying the authority for the 0652 train. Missed another one.
Tried one last train, Virgin's operations team having ensured I would be able to get through the gate this time. It was solidly wedged, reserved passengers only due to demand for services to Cheltenham races. Likely there would be no services which weren't almost dangerously overloaded until after lunch. I'd be arriving in Edinburgh at about 2000 if I travelled via a change at Birmingham. At this point the Operations Manager from Virgin called. Told him I quit and agreed to write to him about the experience. Travelled back to Weston feeling pretty exhausted and demoralised by a very frustrating morning.
Wandered into the office to fax letter to Virgin. Chatted for a bit. Shopped and came home. Did nothing for the rest of the day. An utter waste of holiday.
Puzzled to distraction by recent revalations and future possibilities. Woke late after an excellent sleep, but couldn't settle to usual Sunday chores. Tended to cat as planned, and then hurried to the station, having decided to bring forward the trip to Exeter via the diversionary route, taking in Westbury, Castle Cary and Cogload Junction.
Some amazing weather (between showers) made the journey outwards across the Somerset levels quite picturesque. First decent length journey on a Class 220 too, and despite the usual problems of seats not lining up with windows and so on, I was much impressed. Decent legroom too! Will be spending much longer on a Voyager or Super Voyager if Virgin ever deliver tickets for Wednesday!
Misdirected by a Virgin employee at Exeter St. Davids who disagreed with the information display and its view of the train formation. Rather busier on the return, but equally pleasant journey. Read a great deal to prevent difficult thinking - finishing 'The Mayor of Casterbridge' on the journey.
Later, invited for home made pizza and given a rather good bottle of wine in return for my cat feeding assistance. Its been an odd weekend of disquietening thinking and pleasant events. I need to do ironing. Back to earth with a bump...
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.
