the heat is on

I got onto the 19:00 tonight - aware I've been living on 5.5 hrs sleep each night this week I went to the quiet coach - sadly it wasn't very quiet.

Why oh why is the quality of my journey compromised by people who aren't regular users and so find the simple things amusing../ challenging.... anyways a very polite polyester city suit banker type asked if he could sit next to me and within minutes I was asleep - only to be woken constantly throughout the journey by what appeared to be a primary school party whom thought sitting in the quiet coach would be a good idea. The sun was beating on my forehead and I was sweating like a rickshaw rider. Not ideal. Why oh why couldnt the team leader have exerted some control over the kids - as one little lad nearly smashed his head into my camera tripod as i got out at colchester i almost felt compelled to shout at the little people and give them a lesson which their ditzy female leaders were clearly unable to teach .... social decorum!

cancellations

Tuesday 19th

The 19:00 to Norwich was cancelled. A customer service officer advised there was a fault on the train - classic.

Very nearly missed my appointment in Ipswich for a game of football. Clare Owens (soon to be Burley) managed to get on the 19:30 train with me altho it was so busy she couldn't move down the isle to get to me.....

Not a lot of noise?

Fear not people Im sure the trains are just as unreliable as ever but my silence on matters over coming days is due to the fact I shall be exploring parts of Cornwall and Devon on a camping holiday.

I look forward massively to trying to claim back a £40 return ticket I had to buy on Friday due to misplacing my weekly pass of pain. I did attempt to claim this money back by showing the man on the ticket counter 8 weeks worth of bank statements to prove I do indeed buy a weekly ticket but that on this occasion I had made an admin error. He was having none of it and said I would need to find my ticket. Thankfully I have altho my head might explode with rage if they challenge the fact my, highly forgable, paper, railway id card, might have a number out on it when reconciled with my ticket ( on the basis that I can never remember the number and just guess it).

good luck fellow commuters and may the force be with you. As always keep an eye on Liam's blog: www.ihatenationalexpress.blogspot.com