I've not blogged this week becasue there's been no news relevant to GNER, no incidents to report or delays or anything really. Rather than leave the blog empty for nigh on a week, I thought I'd offer you another qestion:-

Last week I wanted to know about the nutters we've all encountered on the train. This week I thought I go to the other extreem and ask you about the nicest staranger you've met on a train.

Mine was a very very attractive young lady I met sometime last year on a seriously delayed 17.20 KX to Hull service. I didn't get to know her name but I do know she was a Beauty Therapist, lived somewhere near Donney and had been working overseas and was on her way home for a well earned break.

Apart from keeping me company for the 3 hours or so it took to get the train moving again, this young lady was an absolute delight. There were 2 old ladies who had limited mobility sat near us. She noticed this and overheard one say how she really needed a drink but didn't have any money to buy one and could get to the buffet if she did. With this my lady friend jumped up, told the ladies not to worry and despatched herself to the buffet. She returned with a cuppa, pack of Sandwiches and biscuits for each of them. She went on to help a young disabled man retrieve his bag from the luggage racks, entertain a couple of young kids while mum went to the toilet, help another couple with direction to some place in Donney and finally chat, swap jokes and tales with me.

By the time we arrived into P'boro I was wishing I was 15 years younger, single and attractive. To say I was smitten is an understatement. And in the real world .........