After a tough day in the rat race I battled my way through the crowds finally reaching Euston. Standing in the queue for Platform 12 and the Lancaster train, I was buried in the Guardian when I saw a familiar face in the crowd – Janet appeared followed by Dave W. & Ian. They packed into the queue. David watched the notice board – he sneeked back with news of a platform change “it’s three” he whispered, “three” Janet repeated, “THREE” I shrieked (by mistake). A large group of Sloanes dressed in tails further amplified the news “THREE, 3! 3! 3!”. Everyone charged across Euston, passengers waiting in the other queue were trampled underfoot (one of them muttered under what remained of their breath “Animals, they’re like animals” (who, us?)). On Platform 3 a 2nd class non-smoking vacant seat was spotted – we charged for it. Unfortunately the carriage was going to the carriage sheds but we ignored this news put out by a British Rail Man. He was right, we got off. A new train arrived, we fought for seats, and then started a MASSIVE FEAST. Janet was a real hero, with the aid of M&S she’d prepared a fantastic picnic of bread, cheese, garlic sausage, apples and chocolate biscuits containing nibbled hazelnuts. Meanwhile passengers waited exasperated as if they expected BR trains to leave on time. But the revolution was approaching, and the BR drivers were in the vanguard (they weren’t driving i the train). A Frenchman went down the train informing us “oui ‘ave neure lurcomurtif”. At 8.30pm the 7.15 train left Euston with cheers from the crowd.
Slowly we started our epic journey northwards and our excitement mounted. When we reached Wembley (about 1 mile from where David works and not far from 26A) we STOPPED. Unfortunately an accident had occurred, a car fell off bridge and under a train and was squashed very flat. All the electricity was turned off and we waited until 10.30 before it was replaced by a Diesel engine. However, we discussed life, the universe, the ratrace, the ecosystems of the world, the customers and a certain naming system:- some examples: – Huli, Wild, Bloa, Fitj. These four people were present. We talked to a policeman about Karrimor Rucksacs. I admitted I was afraid of walking across the bridge by the Festival Hall. The policeman said the mud was very thick in the Thames just there, and he had to look at lots of bodies which were fished out there.
Various nationalities of trains were immitated e.g “ribit, ribit”.
We went past the wreckage, the car was squashed very small; but I didn’t look; though Janet showed some interest.
I nearly fell asleep, but felt the purr of a cat rubbing my neck, it was David…….. a gap in the narrative where the author fell asleep, and unknown activities took place) .
So Lancaster finally arrived at 1.30pm. As we limped exhausted from the train two heroes be seen walking towards us. Outside a beautiful minibus stood and carried us away to a beautiful six hours sleep on the floor at David G’s.
As yet we were not all together or at Cluanie Lodge, but both events would occur eventually.
Andrea.