In Manchester. Predictably, it is raining as we touch down, and skies remain grey. Manchester Airport is singularly dreary, especially after the opulence of Doha. Next step is the Trans-Pennine to York. About to head to the platform as it can't be any drearier than where we are sitting now.
We make a tactical error - on the platform we find a station buffet where we could have got a much-needed coffee, but as the train is there we find our way to the carriage where we have reserved seats and wait for the train to be opened. And wait. Train starts, adding diesel fumes to the drizzle that is blowing in under the canopy. Still no opening of doors - we wait well past departure time. Once on the train there is an apology for the delay, "Bit of a mix-up, we had the wrong diagram and we had to get the right one." What sort of diagram and why it might be needed is not explained.
But the journey across the Pennines is lovely, and we do finally get given a cup of warm liquid passing for coffee, and a biscuit. The privileges of travelling First Class. We manage to find Laura and David when we alight in York, and they drive us back to their home, Ardann Cottage in the tiny village of Goldsborough.
No comments:
Post a Comment