I am intrigued by the search words put into search engines and which unexpectedly find this rant. The latest is the string Trysting on the GNER-try it for yourself if you are at avery loose end. Google is almost omniscient but 'trysting' was a new one for this search engine. Do you mean 'Resting on GNER' it asked anxiously. Any how the would be tryster could only have Musings of last August to explore his/her fantasies and we may never know if wishes were fulfilled. 'I'll take GNER and ye'll take Virgin and I will be in Scotland afore thee' the modern romantic bard might write in an off moment. Certainly if it was a tryst that the poet/songwriter had in mind his thoughts would surely turn to Virgins, with everything pristine and opening and shutting effortlessly rather than the raddled roue GNER with its creaky drafty doors and the loos which only open effortlessly when you are ensconced on the seat, trousers hiding ankles and just out of reach of the handle as 4 Chinese Tourists in identical bile green plastic macs burst in in search of relief.
I hope that the middle daughter and husband are enjoying their return to Lunnon with a song in their heart and only a teeshirt on their back. South of The Border they will be free to shed the fleeces and pullovers and relax warmly in the opulence of GNER First Class special off peak week end service which permits you to use the First Class Carriages but not the First Class Waiting rooms at Berwick Station. A pity as Berwick's is, I am told, a sight worth dying for but has not actually been used since 02 when it was opened to the (First Class with proper fully paid up no Apex rubbish tickets) Public. Ironically they left as the weather was heading back to 'we will never see a summer like this again' temperatures. The rest of the week end was, frankly, dreich andthe middle daughters pithy comment in the visitors book: 'Freezing' was for once an understatement. To our traditional farewell, neo Burnsian 'Will ye no Come back again' I fear the response is likely to be 'not Fishing likely'. Not until we have traded in the Old Manse for a modern semi, with double glazing, Gas fired central heating, 15" insulation in the loft, low ceilings, tiny rooms, underfloor back up heating, draft excluders, cavity wall fibre fillings, heated swimming pool and in Surrey.
