We’re on an extremely slow train to Peterborough. Pulling into Cambridge now.
The slow pace, which we’d estimate at around 40mph, is a little short of the 244kph reached by a train we were travelling on in Germany.
Category Archives: Transport
An average station bar
We’re a little early for our train, so sought out the bar in Nuremberg station. This bar isn’t anything like the average UK station bar.
We’re currently sitting outside the bar, with ice cold Landwehr-brau in the sunshine.
A few minutes ago, I had a conversation with a local bloke about fussball. He said hello and asked where I’m from. When I told him I’m from, he asked if I was from Sunderland or Newcastle (in that order). Apparently, he follows the premier league (I think that’s something to do with football). I was impressed that he was aware of geography in the UK. He also mentioned Middlesbrough. I worked there for a little while when I was 16.
Rathaus Spandau
I believe that Spandau metro station is the most beautiful of all metro stations. I still recall being taken with it at first sight several years ago.
However, all of this metro travel is tiring, so we’re having a sit down with a nice beer.
Progress
I’ve visited the Leigh Arms, in Newton le Willows, three times and almost a fourth. The fourth didn’t happen because I was at the station due to rail disruption and, although the pub was visible from the platform, I was uncertain as to how much time I had. Plenty, it turned out.
The fourth time was technically the first, so the first now becomes the second. I hope that makes sense. Anyway, the second time I visited Newton le Willows, and the first time I had a beer in the Leigh Arms, was around 13 years ago. This was also due to train issues, but there was enough time to call in the pub. It wasn’t the best of experiences, but that was because it had generally been a rubbish day.
Neither of my other visits were planned, rather spur of the moment things when in Manchester and Liverpool for work. I went to meet up with a mate and we could both get to Newton le Willows. This would have been six-ish years ago, but there are some similarities between one of my last visits and today.
With time on my hands today, I decided I’d rather have a beer than do last minute Christmas shopping. Since it’s only a short train ride from Manchester, I bought a return ticket. Only then to find that there were no trains due to engineering works. While this did bring back memories of my last but one visit, when trains were cancelled and I feared I’d be stranded, I was assured the there was a good replacement bus service.
And, so, I made my fifth visit to Newton le Willows.
Sadly, my fourth time in the Leigh Arms didn’t happen. A man told me it’s been closed for years and is being converted to flats. In a way, that turned out to be a good thing. The place had clearly fallen on hard times and probably wouldn’t have been the best of pubs in its last days.
Back to Manchester then.
National Express
I’m quite enjoying my National Express experience today.
Not only did I find a seat with masses of leg room, there has been an interesting conversation across the aisle; two women sharing crocheting tips. I may also have laughed a little when a lady locked herself in the toilet, although I did produce a 50p coint with which the door was opened. And a man is wearing slippers; he seems to have brought them for the journey, since I’m certain he had shoes when boarding.
I made the obligatory National Express comment on Twitter and was pleasantly surprised with a response.
Bin day
Today is bin day on the hill and our bin is out, awaiting the bin truck.
Unfortunately, there is a big hole outside our house, so I’m uncertain as to whether our (very full) bin will be emptied today.
Yes, I know the picture’s blurry, but I’d a bus to catch and I needed some money from the cash machine first (for John the plumber).
I needn’t have rushed though; the hole has its very own traffic lights, so things aren’t moving very quickly.
The Maggie Bank
I came to North Shields this morning in search of beaded skirting board. And I was very pleased to find a close match to the 1800s skirting in the house.
The timber yard was very busy, a Saturday morning thing I guess. A man helped me find the right skirting; they have a huge range. He asked me how much I needed and i said around 2.5 metres (knowing the limits of public transport).
He went off to find a piece and returned a few minutes later. Apparently, it only comes in four metre lengths, which is actually great, but he’d cut off a metre and a half to match the size I wanted. He had to sell me the whole length, but it’s good to have spare. He said he’d left it outside for me, so I paid then went to collect the wood.
The wood is currently with beer kegs out back at the Magnesia Bank. I realised that, even reduced in length, I’d not be able to transport it on the Metro. And, so, I needed to find somewhere to wait for a lift home. The Maggie Bank was an obvious choice.
It’s six years since I’ve been here; I came for a pint with Ellen before a pretty cool wedding. Well, the pub’s just round the corner to the register office.
It’s not a bad place to wait with a piece of skirting board.
Class
Many people will probably have a view that drinking Tennents on a train isn’t particularly classy.
Rest assured though, we’re doing it in a classy kind of way.
Opening times
Each month, I buy a travel card. It’s pretty cost effective and useful for deviations from my daily travel to the office. I usually try to buy one from a travel office in Gateshead or Newcastle because, for some reason, the cards purchased in Washington don’t work with Metro barriers.
Unfortunately, I’ve needed to resort to the Washington travel office this morning. Another reason to avoid this office is the eight o’clock opening time, which doesn’t fit with the timing of my bus to work. After buying a card, I need to wait a half hour for a bus.
Until today, that is. The opening times have changed; it’s now 8:30 on a weekday.
Which means that, to use the Washington travel centre, I need to wait a half hour for it to open, buy my card, then wait another half hour (since I’ll have missed a bus while in the office) for a bus to work.
That might not seem to be much of an inconvenience, but Washington bus station isn’t the nicest of places. I’m an advocate of public transport, but can’t comprehend opening hours that don’t cater for the working majority.
Belgium
We found a hotel in Belgium. It has WiFi. A more comprehensive update may follow, but it’s a nice hotel and there is an internet connection. We weren’t supposed to be here, but a bad sense of direction, French striking farmers, and beer led us to stay in Belgium this evening. More will follow.