On Saturday we had to get up very early to make the long trip by rail from Northampton to Plymouth (via Birmingham). I don't like getting up in the middle of the night especially on a Saturday, but by 6.55am we were on the train and heading towards Birmingham. We had a very tight connection at Birmingham but we made it and finally we could sit back and relax. I like long journeys because I have plenty of time to relax and read my magazines without feeling guilty. The first part of the journey passed with Robbie lost in the latest edition of Rail, Sam in his own little world reading a film magazine and me reading my family history magazine. I reserved the last section of the journey for looking out of the window and enjoying the coastal views, I love the section around Dawlish where the track runs so close to the sea that the waves batter the trains on rough days. Some very rowdy football fans joined the train at Newton Abbot, but they were at the other end of the train and they didn't bother us. When we arrived in Plymouth the police were there in considerable numbers, they took the fans off the train and out of the station with the minimum of fuss, it was a bit scary but it was a very well organised operation.
We delivered our Christmas presents and had a happy few hours in Plymouth before heading home again. The journey home was not exactly tranquil. Some rowdy foul mouthed people travelled back as far as Bristol Temple Meads, they had been to Plymouth to see Argyle play Bristol Rovers and while perhaps not drunk enough to fall over they were far from sober and still drinking (they brought a huge pack of cans onto the train). It made the journey very unpleasant.
I managed to wrestle the Rail magazine away from Robbie. I have to admit that I enjoy reading the 'fare dealer' column by Barry Doe. I always have to read it more than once because it makes my brain hurt, but I have the sort of mind that enjoys that sort of detail. I was in my element this week because it seemed as if Barry Doe had taken over the magazine, as well as his usual column he popped up in various other places. His contribution included a whole page criticising the Cross Country timetable. I am not sure that he intends his writing to be funny, but he had me laughing out loud much to Robbie's annoyance. He is not a fan of Barry Doe, but I am unable to share his opinions with you because it would almost certainly get me sued! Robbie had one of his famous rants which lasted all the way to Cheltenham Spa, I bet Barry Doe's ears were burning! To be fair he made some very reasonable observations about the timetable and I am sure by next time it will be more user friendly. I have to agree when he says that 'green on green looks worse than it sounds' hopefully next time they will choose colours that don't induce nausea. To be fair to Cross Country if the nit picking about the timetable is all he can find to criticise Cross Country are not doing so badly. I think they have made a fairly good start all things considered.
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