I keep thinking there's a story in that picture somewhere, or at least a caption, but I haven't come up with anything suitable yet. (Call yourself a writer? - Ed)
I've been shimmying around the country on trains for the past two days. Up to York to spend a day with family - typically the sky went surly and a breeze sprang up the second I stepped on the platform - and today to spend time with writing friends, to discuss an exciting new project (top secret at the moment! Don't you hate it when people put that on their blogs? I know I do.)
I love travelling by train, I find it genuinely relaxing. I got more writing done than I would have at home, which made me think I should take a long journey every single day. Then I realised I'd be broke by the end of the week and quickly came to my senses.
Does anyone remember when train travel used to be cheap, or am I imagining that?
21 comments:
Oh yes, I remember the days of cheap rail travel, Sadly a thing of the past - just like a lot of good things.
Ooh, I love travelling by train too - my favourite mode of transport. Like you say, it would be much better if it was cheaper...and I'd quite like a bit of steam too! X
It's been a very long time since I've been on a train. I find everything is getting more expensive tho. I'm still wondering about that hanging teddy bear...how strange is that? Would be interesting to know the story behind the bear.
That bear is worrying really...
I love train travel and it never used to be so crippling. I too work well on trains...
lx
Ooh that poor bear! What had he done to deserve that?
Can't wait to hear what your exciting new project is!
I like trains, but I don't like stations - it doesn't take a lot to confuse me these days! And I certainly do remember when it was cheaper.
Love the incongruity of the heat, tinsel and hanging bear! Trains are my favourite form of transport and on a recent journey, I wrote more by hand than I'd ever written all at once before.
Is your top secret project anything like Cally's secret project?
Big Ted was hanging around waiting for the delayed train to take him on his top secret journey ;-)
Sounds interestingly quirky, Clarkey.
Tommox
I quite like train travel too, which is just as well as I have to do a 5 hour round trip on the things every fortnight for work. I don't write on trains though (used to but it was never any good) so I just enjoy myself reading.
Love the hanging bear!
Captain Black - being 'in' on Karen's top secret project I can tell you it is nothing like Cally's - unless there's another secret she hasn't told us about...
I always loved traveling on the train. It is terribly expensive here.
I have to say I was wondering about that bear hanging precariously as well. A bit on the eerie side....
Nothing like a heat wave to bring people out and about!!
We don't have trains over here (no point) but when my son was talking about one he had to take I couldn't believe the price!
I have awarded you a Friendly Blogger Award, Karen, if you'd like to accept it :-)
cool!
Trains were great when they were cheap and gave you tables. I used to write then too, but I just can't manage on those tiny flip-down things you get nowadays (I sound like someone's granny, I know!)
Hope secret project comes to fruition and I'm guessing the hanging teddy is tantalising everyone! x
www.lydiajones.co.uk/blog
Am intrigued about your new project, Karen. What could it be...?
I just thought of a caption for your pic:
'Bear bored steiff by early Christmas shopping'
Bad puns. Sorry about that!
I quite like the train, too. I took it loads when I lived in Poland!
That Teddy is very disconcerting!
I also remember a time when I could understand train prices. Now they just seem to make them up. I hate the way that a last minute ticket is SOOO expensive when I know perfectly well it doesn't cost anything different from the ticket I might have purchased (for so much less) two weeks earlier! Grrr.
We're putting our Christmas tree up in a couple of weeks. Luckily I'm Scotland, so the weather and daytime lighting will be suitably dismal for such jolly decoration. Tinsel just doesn't seem right in the sunshine.
XX
Ha - I've just read David's caption. :0)
XX
colette - It was definitely far cheaper under British Rail.
amanda - Steam train would be much more romantic - but possibly too slow!
diane - That bear was probably as upset as I was by the sight of tinsel so early in the year!
liz - There's something quite relaxing about train travel, and letting someone else doing all the hard work :o)
teresa - Thanks so much for the award :o) That poor bear probably wasn't feeling too friendly!
rosemary - Me too. The only downside was I then had to type it all up!
captain black - Like womagwriter, I had to smile at that. It's categorically NOT like Cally's project which has now made its appearance in the world :o)
tommo - Ooh I like the sound of that :o) I should have grabbed him and taken him on the train with me!
womagwriter - I'm wondering if I can work in a 5 hour round trip evey week - I'd get so much more writing done!
ann - Sadly that heatwave seems a very long time ago. Hopefully the bear's been brought in now it's raining!
debs - I'd managed to get a good deal, or I'd never have beena ble to afford it. £172 just to get to York and back!!
emelie - Thank you :o)
lydia - I must admit I didn't use the flip-down thingie either :o) Secret project will be blogged about shortly (it's writing based, in case you hadn't guessed!)
david - Great caption :o) I can never think of one until ages afterwards (and not even then, usually!)
talli - I much prefer it to flying or going on a boat. Would love to take a train trip through Europe sometime :o)
jenny - It really is frustrating. It's not always possible to buy weeks in advance, as you never know what might crop up in the meantime. Grrrrr!
suzanne - Ooh I can't think of getting the tree out until after my boys' birthdays on Dec 1st. Mind you, it's not that far away now and the weather's definitely turned appropriate!
It's probably been put out to dry. either that, or as a Halloween decoration they're going to hang it with the tinsel. Or a child has just discovered the truth about Santa and his run in the Iranian authorities a few decades back. Has he been freed yet?
I do love travelling on trains. I especially love the tannoy at my station which begins inaudible, and gradually gets louder until it becomes inaudible again, only heard through the vibrations felt throughout the station.
I travel by bus a lot too, I find that although I can't get anything done, I get to stare out of the window for an hour. Every so often I spy something which confuses the smeg out of me. 'WELL NICE DOGS 4 SALE' one sign read. And a lad who embarks looking like a medieval squire. And Ashburton- narrowest main through roads in Britain (not a fact. Haven't checked). But still insists on two lanes of double-decker bus traffic.
Mike.
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