Yesterday, Mark came home for Christmas. He came by train; a journey which should have taken around three and a half hours, with three changes. But, of course, there has been snow. There isn't too much here and he says there isn't too much up there, but higher up and inbetween...
The problems began before he had left Penrith; a two hour delay on train number one! From there, it was to Preston for the first change, then into Manchester. In Manchester, he had to transfer between Victoria and Piccadilly stations by Metro (though I think he quite enjoyed that; very nostalgic!). From Manchester, it was across the south Pennines to Sheffield; a beautiful journey if only it had still been daylight. Finally, the last leg of the journey was a fast inter-city service bound for London, St Pancras.
He texted me (for the umpteenth time) from Chesterfield and I set out to Derby station to pick him up - four hours later than expected.
This was his platform, but not his train. I was willing it out of the way to make room.
Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away!
Nice reflections though.
Oh, ok, maybe it didn't have to make room after all! I suppose it's only like parking a car, but watching many tons of high speed inter-city train gliding towards many more tons of high speed inter-city train, was a tad disconcerting! Mark's is the one with the snow.
Finally, the wanderer returns!
I told him to look disgruntled (and after that, he wouldn't smile!).
Nice to have him home for Christmas :)
Welcome home to the Lad. I am still trying to persuade mine to come home from Sheffield : his excuse for his delayed return home for Christmas is that he is playing ice hockey!
ReplyDeleteH - you've turned into a true blogger! Fancy making your dear son stand still for a photo, when he's only just arrived after a horrid journey like that. I see you have your priorities right!
ReplyDeleteThat train to train shot is wonderful. Welcome home Mark. Mom's gone a bit round the bend since you've been away.
ReplyDeleteJennyfreckles - Ha ha! He's been advised to start building up his resistance to cold, in preparation for the winter skills course next year, so think of it as part of his training :D
ReplyDeleteCheryl - You'd noticed?? :p
Wonderful to have your handsome son home for Christmas, H! BTW, his disgruntled look is not convincing ;)
ReplyDeleteI, too, loved the nose to nose (or is it nose to tail?) shot of the two trains - they certainly didn't leave any room for error!!!
Hope you & your family have a truly blessed time together. And thanks again for all the wonderful posts you've been sharing with us!