I'm On the Train!

I had carefully planned some activities for the 9 hours I was expecting to spend on trains over the weekend. "The best laid plans of mice, men [and enthusiastic grandmas] gang aft agley" said that Scottish guy [almost] Bob bought me a newspaper at the station, while I got a croissant  - I'd got a flask of coffee in my bag.

 When I boarded the train, well before 8am on Saturday, I was thrilled to find a table seat. I folded the paper back to the crossword. I was joined by a very chatty woman going to Leicester to watch her son play rugby. She was accompanied by the son's girlfriend and his shorts, which he'd forgotten to pack when he left earlier in the week! 
She chatted all the way to where they changed trains. The girl dozed [or pretended to!] I now know all about burial customs in the French Cameroons [where she regularly visits her late mother] and grape-growing in Norfolk. They got off, I began my crossword. Filled in two clues. Then the next person came and sat opposite me. She also started up a conversation, I put down my pen. 

A delightful woman, a charity worker, en route to a surprise birthday party. "Do you mind if I put my make up on? I didn't have time before I left?" She managed to do amazing things with brushes and palettes whilst conversing about anything and everything. I learned, among other things, that the phrase in use when I retired from teaching "high functioning autistic" should now be replaced with "twice blessed" [Duly noted] She de-trained just before Sheffield.

My final travel companion was off for a girls' weekend with old friends from Uni. Her two children were the same age as George and Jacob, but she was confident their Dad would cope. She had been a teacher, but after the children arrived had moved to a part-time admin job, which was less stressful - and finished at 'hometime' - not evening marking and prep work! She got off and I had half an hour to myself. I finished my lukewarm coffee and my crossword.  Steph and Liz met me at Manchester Piccadilly. Liz had brought a book with her to lend to Steph, and I speed-read it over the weekend. 

I may review this later! The journey back was good. I boarded the train with a couple of similar age who were going right through to Norwich, and on to Yarmouth for the racing. We chatted for a bit as we settled in, then he did a huge crossword, she put in her earbuds, and I sorted out my cross stitch. Having established which colours I needed beforehand, I made three strips of card, drew the little symbols and numbers and cut and threaded lengths of yarn.

I was pleased to have my threads ready for beginning the project. Then I read my book right through!
I can't review it yet, Bob wants to read it first! Yes I know "Murder under the Mistletoe" is somewhat unseasonal.

It was a birthday gift from my old schoolfriend. She is still  in hospital, and unable to shop. So is wisely regifting her Xmas presents, and felt a book by a Rev was one she could happily pass on to me.

I did pack a second book, but I suspect I have left that in Manchester...

How do you pass the time on long train journeys?

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