venta

A couple of weekends ago, I skipped out of work slightly early and caught the 17:30 to Glasgow. ChrisC spotted, months ago, that there were cheap tickets on one of the Virgin West Coast lightning sales, and we thought hey, why not? Glasgow is, after all, one of the biggest cities in the UK and neither of us really knows it.

( ...when I called you last night from Glasgow )

Overall, Glasgow is lovely. Its centre was largely built in the period best described as Victorian Twiddly, which means it has (like Edinburgh and large chunks of West Yorkshire) a rather pleasantly grand air. It's got a nice big river (unlike Edinburgh which has a weird fake valley), and it's got Big Art all over the place. Some cracking museums, and some really good places to eat.

Crossposts: https://venta.livejournal.com/547405.html

Argh. Once upon a time, my ability to break trains was legendary. Lenny, who worked on the platforms at Darlington station, used to ask my parents to warn him when I was coming home, because he knew there would be massive rail disruption that night.

I thought, in recent years, the trains and I had reached an understanding. Apparently not. We are without car at present, and I have been late for a variety of things because of act of train.

Today the plan was: train from Ealing at 10:46, change onto a fast train at Slough, get to Oxford in time to catch the one o'clock bus to Katie's, ready for a Mabel practice at two.

And lo, the gods pointed and laughed, and twiddled with the signals in Langley. I may get to Oxford in time for the two o'clock bus. Or I may not, in which case I will catch the next one and arrive at half three for a practice which finishes at four. Excellent.

On the plus side, when my train finally pulled in I sat down opposite dr_bob and we had a nice hour-and-a-quarter chat during our twenty-minute journey.

Mostly what I have learned this week is that you lot are much more into jam jars than you are gig reviews. Still, I shall press on :)

( Helen Love @ The Lexington )

( Getting chilled to the bone on the stupid bus home )

Current Music: Tullycraft - Every Scene Needs a Center

I got back into Ealing Broadway around midnight last night on the train. Ambling up the platform and vaguely patting my pockets to make sure I hadn't lost something, I became aware of some shouting ahead and looked up in time to see a bloke dropping down between the train and the platform.

It was clearly deliberate - he was lowering himself, not falling - and my first thought was that he was going to retrieve a dropped phone. This is in the gap between the platform and a train which is due to depart at any moment. Surely, whatever you've dropped isn't worth that...

( This story could have had a much worse end... )

Current Music: The Secret History - Age of Victoria

Anyone who travels round south-east England on the train is probably aware that Reading's undergoing major changes. Having been away over Easter, then driving to work last week, I was lightly surprised on Monday morning to pull into platform 13A.

Last time I was there, Reading didn't have a 13A. In fact, while the station was shut over Easter weekend, it changed so dramatically that I actually couldn't orientate myself and had to read the signs to work out the way to the exit.

It's huuuuge, the new station. The old, rickety footbridge and the leaky roof have gone, replaced by a strangely spacious area that looks like an airport. The station still isn't finished, and some bits are closed off and it's slightly hard to find your way around. It is well-signed, though, and much more accessible (all platforms have escalators, and there are more lifts).

I did note last night, though, that in heavy rain they still have to put buckets out to catch the water that pours through the new roof.

Current Music: Musée Mécanique - Hold This Ghost

Aargh.

( A very dull rant )

Public Service Announcement (for anyone who uses Reading railway station with low-to-moderate frequency[*]).

( They've re-numbered all the platforms )

[*] I reckon if you actually frequent the place you'll already know, and if you rarely visit it then you'll just read the screens and signs and be fine :)

Edit: They've also replaced Cow Lane Bridge, which is of less global import, but comes with an exciting time-lapse film. Fun if you want to watch armies of little orange people and cartoony diggers replacing a bridge.

Current Music: Sarabeth Tucek - Get Well Soon

When I began commuting to work by train last year, I was surprised at how frequently the train stopped in a station in such a way that a person sitting where I was couldn't see the station name board. After three months, I can recognise the ten or so stations on my line, and am much more attuned to the stoppings and startings of my train.

In the initial stages, though, I was frequently to be seen peering out of windows, trying to work out where I was - not that it usually mattered, since I could recognise both the stations at which I might want to alight. One station, however, was always simple: as you pull in, a strident recorded female voice trumpets Slough. This is Slough!

I've never worked out why she sounds so pleased about it.

Trivia fans may also be pleased to hear that Slough is also the only station on my route with a stuffed dog on the platform. He's called Jim.

Current Music: Edwyn Collins - Hellbent on Compromise

I remember, I remember, back in the day, when laptops were things to be marvelled at. Anyone on a train with a laptop computer would find people looking, pointing, maybe trying to sneak a glimpse at the wondrous machine.

It's still occasionally noticeable today. The first people on the tube with PSPs, the first people out in public with iPhones, they each drew their share of admiring, interested, or envious glances. They were commentworthy.

Yesterday, for the first time ever, I noticed it happening to me. Passengers on the train cast furtive glances when they thought I wasn't looking. Someone drew a friend's attention. Another traveller peered over my shoulder for a better look.

I was reading a hand-written letter.

Current Music: Piano Magic - Ovations

I met

elethiomel for dinner on Friday night. ( Haven't seen him in a while )

Then I went to Glasgow for the weekend. ( This was good in several ways. )

( Designated Hero of the Week )

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Entries tagged with trains

I was sick and tired of everything

Do you have the time to listen to me whine?

Please make your way to the glitter dancefloor

I hear the train a-comin', it's rollin' round the bend

So many destination faces going to so many places

Is it really so strange?

And seven, seven for no tomorrow

If my hangover was a town...

Ba da ba bop be dop bop ba da

There's a whisper down the line...

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December 2024

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