Living in the Lake District, as many of us at Dove Nest do, we’re able to take advantage of the excellent train service between Oxenholme and London.
When I mentioned to one of our friends last night that I was going to London for the day she looked at me quizzically with a half raised eyebrow as if to say ‘really? Is it really possible to go for the day?’. But it is and I do the journey regularly, and usually very enjoyably.
Today I’ve been to a client meeting in London with our Sales Director, Dan. The meeting had all the elements that I like and appreciate…a really nice client with whom we enjoy a strong relationship, a real spirit of collaboration in the way in which we’re working together to design and deliver an outstanding leadership programme and much good humour and laughter (all purposeful of course).
The most stressful part of the day was when I got back to Euston for the return train journey. The platform for the Carlisle train was announced a mere 10 minutes before departure, whereupon, as usual, what seemed like several hundred people made a beeline for the platform to have their tickets checked before getting onto the platform.
If, like me, you like to be in the quiet coach (colleagues might say there’s some irony here) this means that you have to walk past 10 very long coaches to get to yours which is as far away from the barrier as possible. But its worth it to be free of the need to listen to the conversations of people on their phones.
I was interested to note that when the platform number was announced 10 minutes before departure there was another announcement saying that the train doors would be locked 2 minutes before the train left which caused a large number of anxious passengers to sprint down the platform, fearful that they might be excluded from boarding.
On the occasions when I don’t have a reservation I try and influence younger and more able bodied colleagues to go ahead and keep me a seat. I usually have to offer something in return, such as buying a cup of tea for a cooperative colleague, or occasionally something a little stronger in the case of some (if its getting later in the day, of course).
But the train really is the only way to travel, even if you run the risk of danger to life and limb at Euston.
Watch out for further P.G Tips coming soon.