Things To Rant About

Had a pretty good weekend away with a friend despite the combined efforts of London Underground & First Great Western who conspired to ensure that a) I missed my cheap ticket train (due to minor and therefore non-claimable delays on the Circle line) and I had to pay fullish single fair to get to Gloucester and b) that the train I missed was the only direct train but if I stayed on the train at Swindon and gone to Bristol and back (and ignore the helpful advice from the train staff who told me the total opposite) I would have saved myself the hours wait around at Swindon awaiting a connection to Gloucs. Swindon station is cold. End of train rant.

Oh actually no, it isn't. Kemble Station (kept open as part of some action bylaw/trust agreement and very dinky) has excellent facilities, Cafe - hilarilously called "Off The Rails", very posh waiting room with up-to-date copies of magazines and convenient loos that are located within site of the noticeboard so you wouldn't be missing the train whilst, well, on the throne. But the only problem was, everything was bloody well locked up - and that includes the ticket office. I must have some sort of bizarre "No, I don't work here, but ask me questions about anything" brand on my forehead as I dealt with queries from a beaming clutch of tourists and wrinklies - "well how do I buy a ticket then" (Don't - welcome to fare dodging if you are lucky), "Do you know somewhere where I can get a drink" (a pub? get me a carry-out whilst you are about it), "I'm desperate - what shall I do" (bushes?) I genuinely felt like a public service annoucement by the time the train came - and far from me to raise the view that Kemble must be the centre of the universe on a Sunday afternoon and they are missing a trick on revenue.

But it is one of the cleanest stations I've been to - not surprising seeing as any items that might possibly end up as litter are locked away.

And I can't be bothered to go into the angelic child who was lobbing the safety information cards over the back of the seat despite Mummy's pleas that "oooh, you nearly hit that nice lady, she won't be happy with you will she" Too flaming true.

But trains are still neat - although the temptation for a £3 return on MegaBus to Swindon and then cross country by "local bus" are attractive as well although I'm sure that there is a greater prevalence of "oooh, you've smacked the nice lady" on coach than train. The experiment awaits.