Grumpy Old Man

23rd May 2012
08:55 Sitting on a train from Reading to Evesham for a meeting with the BBC. My mood already darkened by the ticket queue at Fleet station being a dozen people deep as not all of the machines were working. Now faced with the slightly risky process of buying a ticket on the train, as it depends on the mood of the guard and the particular fare enforcement policy being dictated from South West Trains head Office, I parked and bought my car park ticket from the "cashless" ticket machine.
These have to be amongst the worst example of technology implementation on the planet. It used to take a few seconds to pay with cash, which i concede, had to be collected and was at risk of theft and vandalism. The replacement however, which now doubt sounded great in the Boardroom. Takes a full two minutes from inserting credit card to printing a ticket. That time is only possible when you are used to the incomprehensible instructions presented to you when you insert your card. If you happen to be behind somebody just making a rare train trip who has never seen the machines before. Then I am afraid that you will miss your train or come home to a clamped car.
Anyway, the train changes at Basingstoke and Reading were on schedule. So now I am sitting in a carriage heading to Evesham. I didn't make the quiet coach, and am sitting behind a young woman talking in a loud voice, I assumed, to somebody on the end of the line on her mobile. It turns out that no, she was talking to her neighbouring passenger. Who happened to be playing Angry Birds on her iPhone, so was distracted. I guess this in part explained the loud voice.
Fortunately, they had reserved seats. So by concentrating very hard and catching the sunlight at just the right moment I could read through the reservation card sticking out the top of their seats that they should be leaving the train at Oxford.
Maybe I will relax and enjoy the trip a little more from there.





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Pennine Way (Sunday)

Had another good day today. The rain stayed off and we walked another 13 miles. The route was good today, with some nice sections crossing some streams and alongside a reservoir. Quite a few hilly sections as well.

So summary is that having been walking in North Yorkshire and Durham for three days. Our total mileage turned out to be 34. My feet are way too sore to be good for them!
Lovely part of the country though. We should come back.

Love Daddy xxx




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Pennine Way (Saturday)

We woke up to glorious sunshine which was nice to see.
After finding the point in Keld where we had got to last year we set off up a steep hill past a waterfall.
Fortunately, 4 miles on at the top of the hill, there was the Tan Hill Inn. "The highest pub in England".
We then had a long 8 miles across some very boggy moor back to where we had parked the car at Bowes.
The late afternoon showers that were forecast never materialised in the end. So all in all a good day's walk.
Love Daddy xxx


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Pennine Way (Friday)

Alan and I found the hotel and met up with Matt and Jon ok.
After lunch in the Langdon Beck Inn, we drove back a mile or so and parked at Forest-in-Teesdale and walked 8 miles back to the hotel. We walk some of the sections "backwards" (i.e north to south) to make the car dropping off at either end easier.
The weather couldn't make up it's mind whether to pour down or brighten up. In the end, it turned out that the suncream that I'd put on my face wasn't necessary.
Rather worryingly my left heel already feels like it may have a blister starting. Not good after just a rather flat 8 miles!
Today we walk from Keld to Bowes.
Hope that you all have a good day at home.
Love Daddy xxx



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Marathon 2012

As I was rather pre-occupied with actually running last year. I thought that a view as a spectator would be interesting. So me, Hannah and Daniel went up to watch some of the race.
We saw the leaders go past in Docklands, and then some of the runners who were at about my pace going past Bermondsey tube station.
D and H managed to sit at the front of a DLR train as we went from Greenwich under the Thames which is nearly as exciting as sitting at the front on the top of a double decker bus!

Elevator

The chap in Orange won

Which way now?

"M&M World" (a little weird)

Hamley's Lego Royal Wedding

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