Trip to Manchester
This week-end, I went to Manchester
to visit Venetia and Bertrand (alias Tony).
The trip started like the
cliché of a rail journey in
England. A typical 20-minute delay in the tube on Picadilly line.
20 minutes waiting between two stations, I can tell you, it's
really long. Then the train to Manchester was announced for
departure 15 minutes late (Friday evening classic). It was amazing:
as soon as the plaftorm was given, an impressive rush started,
everybody pushing hard to be sure to get a seat. Actually bookings
have been disabled. Explanation: on Virgin trains, you now have
your name displayed on an LCD ontop of your seat. And the system is
controlled by satellite - wow that's a beautiful technology ! Well
if it works, otherwise no seat is booked... As I was not prepared
for this rush, I was not well positioned on the starting line, but
thanks to my marathon training I could run full-speed all along the
platform and find
in extremis a seat available in the front
coach. A good 35-minute delay on arrival.
Anyway, I was warmly welcomed and the week-end was really nice.
Beautiful weather. We visited the city, museum, went for pints. And
cooked and ate a lot ! I've put on weight, approximatively 2kg
(4pounds). Excellent ! By the way, I noticed while cooking the
lasagnas that I was really missing to prepare fine cuisine. The
flat of Venetia and Bertand is really large and cosy. Living room,
kitchen, bathroom, two bed-rooms and balcony ! Wow ! Decorated
French and Greek style. No special annoucement from the couple
...
On return, the satellite booking system was not repaired yet. But
the train proudly arrived in London 20 minutes earlier than
expected ! I think I shouldn't try to understand the British
Railways anymore ...
