I haven't logged any entries for a few days because I've had a few days R & R. First day back was yesterday but I've not been in today because I've been out to see my buddies at Market Harborough again. (Fiona, Emma, Philipa, If you read this, here's your very own mention in cyberland).

Not too much bother with GNER yesterday although the 07.20 arrived at P'boro and KK 5 mins late. The guard then had the cheek to apologise for being late and blamed a passenger who had to be removed at Newark. Thing is, us regular travellers knew we would have been on time had they not ran slow somewhere between St Ives and Stevenage. We know this because it usually arrives at KK 5 mins early if it arrives at P'boro on time.

There are 2 other little stories I'll mention today. The first one concerns GNER's Car Park at P'boro station. Half of it is flooded due to a burst pipe. (see link)

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=845&ArticleID=1692160

You've got to laugh given the controversy around GNER's car parks.

The other story concerns a young lady and her son who were passengers on Mondays 17.30. I sat on a table in coach E and opposite was the young lady and her son. The boy, who must have been about 5, was sat quietly watching one of those portable DVD player things but as he didn't have any ear phones, the sound was on but it was fairly low so it wasn't annoying or anything. A French lady and her daughter sat opposite as we left KK and started watching their DVD with the boy.

Suddenly this lady sat behind, poked her head between the seats and started mouthing off about how the lady with the DVD should be ashamed and how could she be so inconsiderate to other passengers etc, etc. Ordinarily I'd have kept well out of it but because this woman was so aggressive towards the lady with the kid, I suggested she move to the quiet coach if she didn't like the noise of the DVD. She said something I didn't quite catch and pulled a 'so what face' at me whilst the lady with the kid thanked me for the support. Then the woman started mouthing off again but this time she started pointing fingers and getting really abusive so I said I knew what it was like travelling with kids and that nobody else seemed to mind and that she was the one with the problem and not the lady with the DVD. This prompted more thanks from the lady with the DVD until the miserable one piped up again to tell us she had 2 grand children and how she would ensure her kids were more considerate. 'God help them' I said and with this the woman went bright red and sat down muttering to her husband how she was going to talk to the guard.

The best bit came when the guard finally arrived to check tickets. I could see misery guts out the corner of my eye lining up to 'have a word'. The guard had to go past me and the lady with the DVD first and as he did, he sat on my table and started watching the DVD and cracking jokes with the boy. The mother and I looked at each other and laughed one of those sadistic laughs you get real pleasure from because we knew no matter what her ladyship said, the guard would say nothing otherwise he would have asked the lady to turn the DVD off there and then. Needless to say old misery guts never said a word.

Priceless.