Musings from the Merse
Friday, July 17, 2009
We are roaring through God's own country-well south of Scotland-having arrived earlier from Paris, France, courtesy of Eurostar.Unlike Eurostar Natonal Express is heaving; bog standard FirstClass is full, in contrast to ES's Leisure Select where you have eventualy to wave away the free Champagne which goes a long way in a sparsely occupied compartment
We found ourselves travelling from Gare du Nord with an Australian family who had been next to us in the train going out. To while away a pleasant hour or two I asked the bloke about the current test match at Lords
Don't follow cricket he said.
Bit of a conversation stopper that one.
Now across the table from a garrulous Glaswegian. I bet he follows everything. And being the only passenger without a laptop on he is dying to chat
Me I ll hide my head in the Netbook until Berwick
We found ourselves travelling from Gare du Nord with an Australian family who had been next to us in the train going out. To while away a pleasant hour or two I asked the bloke about the current test match at Lords
Don't follow cricket he said.
Bit of a conversation stopper that one.
Now across the table from a garrulous Glaswegian. I bet he follows everything. And being the only passenger without a laptop on he is dying to chat
Me I ll hide my head in the Netbook until Berwick
Labels: Eurostar, Garrolous Glaswegians, National Express
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
RELIEF IS NOT EASILY FOUND
at Paris Nord -Gare du Nord in old money. The Loos are disguised as Mr Clean(what does the Academie Francaise make of that) and when you enter, legs crossed, unmentionables clenched you are confronted with a unisex queue-quite long at 1155 am today. Then Messieurs a gauche, Mesdames a droit and One Euro for the his and hers turnstiles. One Euro or 81p (no pun intended) -almost three times Kings Cross. In this case the queue was so slow moving (Try moving fast with lc and uc as well)so I took my custom elsewhere. The Eurostar lounge, a poor relation of St Pancras, but a pee is free and only the ladies have to queue.
And then the contrast between Eurostar Leisure Select and National Express East Coast First class.
For once
Words fail me
at Paris Nord -Gare du Nord in old money. The Loos are disguised as Mr Clean(what does the Academie Francaise make of that) and when you enter, legs crossed, unmentionables clenched you are confronted with a unisex queue-quite long at 1155 am today. Then Messieurs a gauche, Mesdames a droit and One Euro for the his and hers turnstiles. One Euro or 81p (no pun intended) -almost three times Kings Cross. In this case the queue was so slow moving (Try moving fast with lc and uc as well)so I took my custom elsewhere. The Eurostar lounge, a poor relation of St Pancras, but a pee is free and only the ladies have to queue.
And then the contrast between Eurostar Leisure Select and National Express East Coast First class.
For once
Words fail me
Labels: Eurostar, French loos, Mr Clean, National Express
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Le Bon Voyage-revisite
I am afraid that try as they may-National Express will never quite compete with Eurostar for style and service Some how Les Frogs know how to serve a good meal at your seat, with vin naturellement, and it is not just soggy pizza or soup of the day-so cold,it would be better called Soup of Yesterday. And we are not talking First Class but Eurostar oddly called Leisure Select-a sort of Club Class. Quite cheap if you book a month ahead and go inflexible-no change allowed. And the meal is part of the deal
As the Chicken and Leek Pie came up the aisle the couple from Tunbridge Wells put down their His and Hers Telegraphs. "Is this all there is?" "Well you can have Cod" "Lets look. Oh Dear its all messed up and no chips. Is that Brocolli? Yuk. Should have gone Standard Class and brought our sandwiches"
So they had the chicken Which they enjoyed despite being very messed up. But admit it? And thankyou.
What do you think?
The image is of a lady from Tunbridge Wells sent by husband to get a Watney's Red Barrell and told not to be fobbed off with "French Pissy Lager
She returned with two Gins and Tonic (and a packet of Crisps)
Vives Les Anglais d'Outremere
Labels: Eurostar, Paris, Tunbridge Wells
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Eurostar Le Bon Voyage
Because of circumstances beyond our control the Bar is no longer able to offer food or beverages-so we were informed by Monsieur Chef de Train as we emerged from the Chunnel St Pancras bound. Une Domage as the quality of the food in what the French call Le Bar and the Brits the Buffet put National Express to shame. But the quantity?
However, foodless or drinkless, no matter, the Buffet was still open. We were assured. French hospitality at its best. So if you want to read the timetable in comfort watching the Kent countryside rush past (the bits outside the tunnels and the deep cuttings) you know where to go.
THere was no mad rush
Because of circumstances beyond our control the Bar is no longer able to offer food or beverages-so we were informed by Monsieur Chef de Train as we emerged from the Chunnel St Pancras bound. Une Domage as the quality of the food in what the French call Le Bar and the Brits the Buffet put National Express to shame. But the quantity?
However, foodless or drinkless, no matter, the Buffet was still open. We were assured. French hospitality at its best. So if you want to read the timetable in comfort watching the Kent countryside rush past (the bits outside the tunnels and the deep cuttings) you know where to go.
THere was no mad rush
