I quite enjoy the GNER trip back in a crowded train and especially one when it is only 'a slightly late running' one -in this case ten minutes. Unlike the journey down we did not have a humorous train 'Team Leader' . Today's compere put out the usual GNER speak of 'The service of Lunch' and 'Your next station stop' Going down we were advised on leaving the train to take with us our baggage, our 'children and all other items of a personal nature'. I suppose it is possible to forget your children-or even your mother and I wonder if there is a sad true tale of grief and loss on the 11.43 to be uncovered.
Today Huttonian was surrounded by Geordies all auditioning for the next series of'Auf Wiedersehn Pet' . Of all the English ethnic groups Geordies are nearest to the Irish for wit, graphic imagery and outrageous innuendo. And for the art of conversation generally. None apparently listening to the other but coming right back on any barbed comment made by any one else. They drowned out the inevitable cell phone bores who apparently can't be out of touch with their office colleagues for more than ten seconds at a time. Only once have I been privileged to be riveted by one of that ilk-she got in Edinburgh going South and spent the next forty minutes explaining in graphic detail and in a very loud voice ( apparently to an under employed work mate) how she got on with her latest boyfriend the previous night. No item of removable kit was left unremarked and a number of men travelling with me in a coach in which the traditional pin dropping would have been very noticeable decided not to leave the train at Dunbar (the first stop) as apparently she had been in a dilemma over whether to lose her bra or panties first. This was not resolved by the time we got to Berwick some 20 minutes later-the moral issues of a first date encounter were explored at some length- and the Dunbar bound, and myself had no option but to get out with the symphony unfinished. I suppose we could have gone on to Newcastle....
Any how good to be home. Greeted by an interesting
Berwickshire and thirty items of junk mail. Will report further. If I am spared.
