The Train Previously known as Late Running.Huttonian's heart sank on arrival at Berwick Station. The Bus from Galashiels was terminating on time but litle flickering figures beside the 9.28 from Kings Cross to Embra indicated an increasing state of late runnery. Flashing figures also usually indicates that not only is the train late running but has actually stopped some place and no one really knows when it will move. Sure enough the figures changed-9.35 (acceptably delayed) 9.40 (delayed) 9.45 (late running-half hearted apology) 9.53 (Late Running-inconvenience regretted) I was about to telephone the wife touggest a car lift to Ould Reekie when the screen cleared and opposite 9.28 came up the dramatic anouncement 'On Time' Shume Mishtake Shurely? But no -on time it was. The duty Station Master described it as the formerly late running-no further explanation, no apology for flesh creeping, no self satisfaction for problem solved. But one must be grateful for small mercies.
My usual Cyber Caff is empty of Russian professors and, I think, but it is hard to be sure, of Mossad Agents. Any evidence of political assasination from last Friday has been removed. Instead we have a Japanese visitor hiding from the itinerant mendicant pipers in Princes Street who can just be heard off stage. They are battling away despite the pouring rain but it is a Bank Holiday and needs must. Two other figures from the less Far East are giggling over what sems to be softish porn. Surely they could have done that in the comfort of KL -there are other things to do in Embra, surely, even if it is hissing down? A back packer is earnestly looking at the BBC Weather site-I mentally urge him to switch channels and look out of the window-there ius nothing difficult about the pronostication for now and soon. Rain. Wet Wet Wet as that Scottish pop group were so appropriately called. And as for Huttonian, it is down with the Latte and up with the Umbrella-and off to the Dentist. Painless on the teeth but heavy on the wallet.
Ah the Japanese is risking ordeal by pipes and is moving and so must I
