Thanks to a morning appointment in Tinsel Town, I had a late start today and didn't make it to P'boro station until 10.35am. Oddly, as I pulled up I noticed a GNER train at platform 3 which shouldn't have been there. I guessed this was probably the 10.27, 10.17 or 09.48 running late but it mattered not because despite my best efforts, I didn't manage to lock the Scooter and stow my gear before the damn thing pulled out.
As I entered the station building, I looked at the departure board to see the 10.57 was running on time. However, in the time it took me to buy a cup 'o' tea (medium for £1.29) it seemed to loose 3 minutes yet by the time I'd strolled onto platform 2, it was on-time again. As I stood on the platform I asked the bloke next to me if he fancied a fiver on it being 5 or more minutes late but he wasn't a betting man and declined my most generous offer. It actually arrived a few seconds after 10.59 so I was quite pleased he had.
Strangley for P'boro a number of people got off before I could board. I could see through the window that the train was very busy but I hadn't realsied how busy. With such a large number getting off I thought there would be plenty of free seats. Wrong. There was bugger all. Just as I thought I'd have to stand, a young lady (fat, with a chest to rival Faith Browns) suddenly realsied she was travelling to P'boro and rolled to the door while I jumped in her amply warmed seat. I've never seen a mid morning service so busy.
Off to a gig tonight and tomorrow night so I'm hoping to catch the 23.30 home. I'm also hoping I bump into the bloke with the gate key.