Why can I not get Customer Service

I understand, appreciate and actually support the striking train drivers on East Midlands Trains. However the customer services, urgent emails and website information is not helping me with my travelling anxieties.

East Midlands Parkway

The train they have booked me on does not seem to exist anymore so I cannot determine if I will be travelling the Nottingham to Manchester leg of the journey by train or bus. I actually don't care which it is as long as I get to Glasgow. But they have raised my anxiety by sending me an URGENT ATTENTION email in red asking me to find out more.

I have phoned them only to be told I can find out at the station on the day whether it is bus or train. Well that is no help at all - I already know that. I was on hold for more than 5 min on a premium rate phoneline to be told that!

Oh and the best bit they offered to let me travel on a different day on their trains. However the rest of the journey, which isn't on East Mids trains, I cannot change the day! ha ha ha ha Is it me or does this not make sense at all?

The result:

• I know less than I did before I was made aware of the strike
• My phone bill will be higher
• I am slightly annoyed

Update:

Have just worked out it is 5 hours in the car (6 hours on train). 

I have to change trains 4 times on the way up and 3 times on the way back.

It is 285 miles - so petrol would only cost about £10 more than the cheap train ticket I managed to get. 

Guess what?

Next time I am driving up. I wont have to worrying about how much kit I'm taking. I can visit cousins on the way. I can be in charge of it all.

I got swayed by the romance of train travel only to find out it is no better than one of the sheep you see crammed into a trailer on their way to a slaughter house - but let's hope I don't get pissed on - rain is fine, there's going to be plenty of that. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Scary Portrait

You may recall this challenge I set myself back in January - (Bloomfeld and Sherlock). I've been a little busy so I hadn't quite completed this. However this evening there was weird lovely sunlight streaming through the windows as a storm rolled across the Moira sky. I grabbed my camera, the floor covering and a victim and captured some images.

After a bit of cropping and processing I think I have captured sinister and pleading - these two are my favourites:

Sinister

Pleading

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The End is Nigh

Very soon I will no longer have to go into College. No longer will I have to sit in the cafe or gallery space and overhear conversations of children.

They know everything, but really they know nothing. They think they are grown up, but still snort like a child at something risqué. They have no manners, no sense of style and no grace.

I hope they are learning, but most of them talk about how they haven't done work. This seems to be greated by the rest of the group like a badge of honour. I hope they succeed. I hope they get through this awkward phase to become brilliant adults. I hope they get jobs but most of all - I hope they grow up.

However, this all leads me to the conclusion that what I am most grateful for, apart from a happy, content and peaceful life, is that I never had children. Don't get me wrong - I do like children - what I am saying is that I'm glad I don't have my own.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Peter Cushing Whitstable song

"Peter Cushing lives in Whitstable,

You can see him on his bicycle,

He goes shopping for his vegetables,

Peter Cushing lives in Whitstable.

Aaaaarrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhh"

If you watch QI you will have heard Alan Davis sing this song by the Jellybottys. You will never again be able to hear the name Whitstable without singing this song. Sorry

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 Cathedrals, 2 Days, 1 Birthday

Our little trip to Kent has been interesting.

DAY ONE:

Arrived Rochester - well actually Strood. Had to cross the Medway on foot over one of the three bridges that span the water all very close together. Then we were in historic Rochester.

Many fine and frankly ancient buildings along the medieval High Street. Unique shops, very few chains, weirdly named alleys, cobbled streets and most buildings had a plaque or memorial stone to some event or some one. Over the years, clearly it has all happened in Rochester.

The connection, however tenuous, with Charles Dickens, is squeezed out at every available way. And why not I say.

 

The castle and cathedral are almost side by side - so they were both photographed. We had slight confusion of where to have lunch. Our desire to find pubs put of the good pub guide has more recently had disastrous results. (only disastrous for our tummies) and once again we found a pub that didn't serve food. The Coopers Arms (no relation) did however serve a lovely ale which we consumed with glee.

Rochester Castle

Rochester Cathedral has had many changes and additions over the centuries. Its facade is built of gorgeous honey coloured stone with delightful carvings. Clearly there has been some restoration but it does look lovely. The war memorial mosaics in the nave were very interesting. The interior is full of the different styles connected with cathedrals Norman arches, Gothic windows, Victorian screens, Pugin tiles. The over riding memory of the place is that, like Rochester itself, every available spot is dedicated to, or in memory of, someone.

Visited the 'largest second-hand book shop in England'. Obviously lots of books. Time and money spent in joy.

The Crypt at Rochester - wonderful space

Headed to Whitstable, the home of Peter Cushing. We sang the Peter Cushing song. (See here). We had tea in the Peter Cushing Weatherspoons. A sumptuous former art deco cinema - what a lovely place lovingly refurbished. Then onto the beach to try some long exposures of the seascape at twilight. We saw fireworks off in the distance and wondered if they were to celebrate Boris's win as Lord Mayor of London? But a little unsure of the geography so didn't really know.

Whitstable Beach

Back to hotel which is in a place called 'Bobbing' much mirth and merriment was to be had with the sat nav - childish I know but we are on holiday and it is nearly my birthday. Downloaded all images captured today. There are some with potential. I particularly like mine of the huge crypt. Whilst we were downloading we watched a documentary on BBC Four about Fleetwood Mac. Music and Photography. Brilliant.

DAY TWO:

Set off the Canterbury Cathedral. Wow what a space. We paid £9.50 to get in - quite steep but I say again wow. Spent all day in the Cathedral with a quick walk around the city centre to find lunch. Beautiful city with tremendously old buildings. I'll let the images do the talking:

Oh yes it was my birthday too - I got a splendid present - Oblique Strategies, Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt. This will be so helpful when I get stuck with a project or a business idea. Cant wait to show them off.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .