Train travel

Whilst we were on holiday (see blog entry below), my wife and I had to go to a funeral. It was in Warrington and we were near Totnes, in Devon. We entered the stations on the Internet and found we could do the journey in about four and a half hours, with only one change of train. Although on the way back it was quicker by half an hour to do two changes, so we opted for that.


I know some some of my blog followers work in the rail industry, so I thought they in particular would be interested to hear that for the return journey (3 trains) the punctuality rating was 33%!


Let me explain. We had about 12 minutes between train one stopping at Wolverhampton and train two timetabled to arrive there. However, our first train was running about 12 minutes late! It was a Virgin train and we explained this to the conductor when he came round to check our tickets. He knew of the situation as a number of passengers needed that connection and promised to update us over the PA system. And he did. He explained he had been in touch with the signal box and they were ensuring that our train arrived first.


Then a few moments later another message; he had learned that we were arriving on platform 2 and our connection was arriving on platform 4! So he advised us to make haste, but explained that the station staff were aware of the situation and would give us a reasonable time to get across.


So full marks to that Virgin conductor! And it illustrates that as it is possible to be in contact with stations and signal boxes, they can pass on information to passengers about what is happening when there's a problem.


So, all was going well and we were on time for the Cross Country train from Birmingham New Street to Totnes. BUT, when we arrived at Birmingham, the information boards said it was running 50 minutes late! Our hearts sank. But my wife said that for once she was pleased that I'm a bit of a nerd. You see, I'd picked up a timetable for our route when we first arrived at Totnes in the morning. And I could see that the next train from Birmingham to Totnes was due in 30 minutes! And if this one was not delayed, we could catch that. As this one started in Manchester and the one we were due to catch started in Edinburgh, I thought this was quite possible. And it was!


So we boarded this one. We did not have reserved seats, but we found out there were NO reserved seats on this train and as it was not crowded we got a seats at a table. Unfortunately, although it started on time, it was 20 minutes late by the time we arrived in Totnes- no explanations.


So that was our foray on the trains. We were pleased we were able to get to the funeral and see relatives we had not seen for some years. All in all, not too bad a service on the railways. And as we had bought our tickets in advance, they were at the 2010 rate.

Back from a holiday

We've had a week off. Down in Devon with the family. We had a cottage on a farm. Luckily a local farmer had ensured the roads were cleared of snow. You have to travel for at least a mile before you get to a road that is more than a single track! The main Exeter to Plymouth road (the A38) is dual carriageway, quite a good quality road. We turned off for the farm we were going to; up the slip road and you are straight away on a single track road. Very rural!



The local village had no shop, but it did have a pub and a church. We visited both on Sunday. There was a family service at the church, but the two or three usual families that attend were away, so it was just our grandchildren. I think the vicar was quite pleased, he had a talk about advent calendars (I'm not telling what he said as I've made a note of it to use next year!). I have to say they were very friendly and didn't mind our two year old running up and down the side aisle.



The car park for the church and the pub was the same. So it was easy to slip from one to the other for lunch...



As we walked back along the single track road to the farm, we came across this note pinned to a gate.

Ah! The countryside!

Christmas happiness

I read a little while back that some researchers were surprised that the more well off in this country were not necessarily happier than the poor. Why does this idea persist that "money=happiness"? Haven't they heard of the old adage, "Money can't buy you happiness" (and, of course, its rider, "but at least you can be miserable in comfort")?

And in yesterday's Guardian, an article by Larry Elliott, its Economics Editor, blew out of the water the idea that Christmas is a peak time for suicides. He says it's not. In fact, statistically, in December, the suicide rates are down. Christmas actually "cheers them up. Generally, it makes them happier rather than sadder."

The myth about suicides is probably put about by humanists who want to discredit Christmas. But their cover has been blown! People actually enjoy the preparation for 25th December and the time off work, gatherings of family and friends, good food and, of course, the giving and receiving of presents.

I did a straw poll at our Christmas Day service to see whether people preferred giving presents or receiving them. The "givers" had it. Although it may be that people thought that's what I wanted them to say, or that's what they ought to say! Or, maybe not! Maybe people really DO enjoy giving presents!

Of course, things may go downhill in January, when the credit card bills come in, but even so, we like to spend to give - and that's rather nice, I think. Elliott commented that those thrifty people of fiction, Silas Marner and Scrooge are "two of the most pitied characters in English literature".

Good point!

And when Mr. Cameron's new happiness index gets into gear in the New Year , we will all know how happy we are!

Mind that Battery

In amongst the grandchildren's toys were some helpful instructions about batteries, which are needed by so many of those toys. An A4 sheet, printed on both sides, told us how to use batteries in toys. Yes, TWO sides of an A4 sheet. OK, there were pictures and it was in 12 languages, but even so ...

I like, "Batteries should be replaced by an adult". Actually some children are probably better at this than their parents!

Of course, some (important) instructions can't easily be pictured, but that doesn't stop them. Like, "Remove dead batteries and all batteries from toys which are not going to be used for a long time ..."

Also, of course, "Non-rechargeable batteries are not to be re-charged". Actually, the clue is in the name "Non-rechargeable".

Well, I hope you've learned from this useful tuition. But I have to ask, "Are we really this stupid?"

Christmas Day

It's 10.30 pm and the rest of the household are in bed! But I must admit we didn't go to bed until about 2 am this morning. We went to our local Anglican Midnight Communion and saw Christmas in that way. Which was a very nice way to do it. Including a good sermon from Colin the vicar.

Then it was our morning service - about three quarters of an hour of Christmas Day praise. It included the allegory of Claude and Carol Candle (well, you had to be there!) and my Christmas meditation, God came down at Christmas, which I will try to blog when I get the opportunity (it's so old I only have a "hard copy").

It has been a nice day - just three of us, including my sister-in-law. Tomorrow is the family day - on the floor with the grandchildren, probably playing "sardines in the dark"! That will also be a good day!

As for today we had a lovely three-meat roast - as advertised in Aldi. And very nice it was, too. I even had four sprouts! We played Yahtzee (that's a blast from the past - but I bought it in a charity shop recently) and Crazy Cuts; a simple game where you are given the name of an object on a card and you have to cut it out from a piece of paper and the first person to recognise what it is gets a point - and so does the cutter. Simple, but actually good fun! Thank you to our Barnet friends for buying it for us!

We also watched Dr. Who - well I had to as someone bought me a pair of Dr. Who socks for Christmas! A bit more silly than usual I thought. Not as patch on the Christmas edition which featured Kylie Minogue a few years ago.

Well, that's our Christmas. Not long to Boxing Day now. Although I've been told if you Google "Boxing Day" it doesn't happen on a Sunday. So Boxing Day is officially Monday - yes I know your diary says it's Sunday, but what do they know?

I hope you had a lovely Christmas also. Keep the Light of the World central to your heart and life.

Do Gooding

Did you catch Ian Hislop's "Age of the Do-Gooders" on BBC recently? He looked at various reformers in the Victorian age and, rather than poke fun at them, as people are wont to do, he took them seriously and realised how society had benefited from their work and campaigning.

Among the people he looked at were Wilberforce, Barnardo, Lord Shaftesbury and Gladstone. They helped abolish slavery, stopped children being sent down mines and up chimneys to work, campaigned against drink and sexual immorality and much more besides.

It was interesting how many of them were "evangelical Christians", as Hislop pointed out. The Christians were mocked then and continue to be mocked in many quarters today, for their "do gooding". But it's a force that still has a great effect.

I saw recently the figure of £3m estimated as what it would cost governemnt to run all the work that Christian charities and churches do now for the community, much in a voluntary capacity. And in general it's work done well, as people are motivated by love and wanting to serve. In other words to be Christ like in their lives.

Well done Mr. Hislop for your programme and your look at the Victorian "do-gooding". I also enjoy you on Have I Got News for You, by the way!

Christmas Nativity continued

The second epsisode of The Nativity was on last night (see blog entry below for the 1st episode). Things are beginning to happen! Mary learns she is to have a baby by the Holy Spirit. She goes off to visit her cousin Elizabeth.

The Magi continue to debate the impending conjucntion of heavenly bodies and have an interesting discussion about whether God interacts with his people or not. Three Magi decide to leave to head for Judea.

In the meantime, poor old shepherd Thomas has some of his flock taken to 'pay' his taxes and the medicine for his sick wife has run out.

Then Mary has to return to Nazareth, but it's obvious by now she is pregnant. What will Joseph say and do? Cue cliffhanger ending to be continued tonight!