Huttonian should not be too disparaging about the denizons of N13 and compare them all too unfavourably with the Borderers. I tried to get some milk at the unearthly hour of 9am this morning. Of course Sir Morrisons was not open until 10 as all employees had some time off for early church or some other frivolity?. THe newsagents across from Sir M's had just run out of milk but insisted in handing over his own half litre carton , refused payment in a charming way so my breakfast was saved from disaster. I recall being chased down the main street here by a waiter from an Indian restaurant trying to return my gratuity which 'I must have forgotten from my change' This I think said as much about the tight fistedness of other habitues as his own honesty but I wonder if it would have happened in B-u-T?
Back to the Merse tomorrow. I hope the carriages are not too modern as I have an irrational fear of GNER's new space age capsule loos which open and close at the touch of a button and which have to be locked via another switch from within. THe locking switch has a red alarm one beside it 'For Emergencies' -like when the unlocking device doesn't. THe alternative is not to lock but that is also risky as you can be caught flagrente enthroned on the seat of majesty as someone opens the door from the outside and you are silently, slowly and surely exposed to the curious stares of people in what GNER calls the vestibule awaiting their turn for the convenience.
You can bet your last Scottish pound note that when you hear that plaintive automated alarm signal 'Attention Train Crew! Disabled passenger alarm activated!' that it is another muggins trapped in the capsule-either pressing the red button in panic as the door remorselessly opens to reveal his/her fundamentals or the unlocking mechanism has gone on the blink. I did notice as I nervously relieved myself during a fleeting visit to the facilities coming south how sparkling clean they were; I suspect most passengers are too frightened to use them. So there may be truth in the rumour that King Cross is also going to be called WaterLoo. Certainly the number of people, legs crossed, rushing towards the public toilets when the Train reached its destination was prodigous. Better luck going north-bring back the bog standard lavatories-no pun intended, naturally.
