(no subject)

[williamjm]

I'm back in my old home town in Scotland for Christmas and New Year. I came up on the train today, fortunately unlike the marathon 10-hour delayed journey I had to endure last time I visited this time the train ran on time so it was only 7 hours long (which is still quite a long journey but just about bearable). The only alarming bit of the journey was when the poorly-constructed pile of suitcases in the end bit of the train toppled over midway through the journey, coming fairly close to falling on the person in the first seat in the carriage (me). I think in future I may try to avoid sitting in seat number one, just in case this happens again. Of course, it wouldn't be such a problem if the train companies actually provided trains with sufficient luggage space for more than about 25% of the train's passengers to put their luggage away properly.

I've had a cold the past few days so I wasn't looking forward to the journey very much, but fortunately the cold isn't quite as bad today as it was the last couple of days. Hopefully the cold is getting better and will have mostly cleared up by Christmas.

It currently seems a bit confused what we will be doing on Christmas Day. The last few years we've gone to my brother's in Perth for the Christmas meal but this year he originally said he wouldn't be preparing anything since he has to work that day and he suggested that we see him on Boxing day instead and we could go out to a restaurant with both my brothers and the four nephews and nieces. However, since that he was wandering around Tesco and saw a bit of turkey for sale and has now decided that he will be doing a Christmas meal of sorts (probably a bit simpler than the traditional meal) but he's not quite sure when since he doesn't know when the hospital will let him go home from work.

Comments

[xraytheenforcer.livejournal.com]

glad you got there safely (if not quite excitement free).
Have fun, whatever you end up doing on Christmas!

[catrionamacnair.livejournal.com]

Glad the cold is getting better. Colds are mean entities.

I brought traditional british christmas food to germany. it wasn't that popular, so good luck with having a spontaneous turky dinner :)

I'm still amused by the Doctor Who episode about people eating the population of Turkey for dinner while having an entire day dedicated to Boxing.

[williamjm.livejournal.com]

I'm still amused by the Doctor Who episode about people eating the population of Turkey for dinner while having an entire day dedicated to Boxing.

That was amusing, although the names are a bit off so it's difficult to blame the aliens for being confused.

This year's Dr Who Christmas Special does look intriguing. I'm curious whether they're going to reveal the identity of the next Doctor (as the trailers seem to hint) or if they're deliberately trying to mislead us.

[misunderstruck.livejournal.com]

Ah, a Christmas surprise dinner. What fun!

Have a merry Christmas, however the plans work out.

Also, I clicked on your "current location" and Google Maps took me to a town called Pitlochry in Manitoba, Canada. Somehow I think they made a mistake. If not, then 7 hours by train is quite impressive time!

[williamjm.livejournal.com]

If not, then 7 hours by train is quite impressive time!

The time is impressive itself, but I'm more impressed by them building a railway across the Atlantic Ocean.

I never knew there was a Pitlochry in Canada. I'm guessing it's named after the Scottish one. Usually it's the other Scottish placename I mentioned in my post (Perth) that causes confusion, there are a lot of people out there who think the only Perth is the one in Australia.

[fenryng.livejournal.com]

Seven hours, even under optimum conditions, is a long haul no matter HOW you are travelling.

But you are right; it does all into the realm of still just bearable, but really pushing the envelope.

Regardless of how the plans do or do not work out, I hope that you have fun and enjoy yourself!