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| Rita ready for our last train to Cardiff |
Do you believe in Guardian Angels? Well, God sent us an angel disguised as a young man named Chris. He tried to hide his wings, but he always seemed to be right there when he was needed, which was for most of our ill fated train ride from Paddington Station London to Bristol which was supposed to be to Cardiff, Wales. We have been told tales of the wonderful rail system in the UK. Another one of those myths flying around to make us believe we can actually get from one town to the other at the speed of light in ease. Not true!
It all started lovely enough with a
nice breakfast at our hotel and then a 10 min. ride to the station where the
driver left us off at the WRONG end of the station. Do you know how long a train is? Do you know how many train platforms Paddington
Station has? Do you care? You would if you had a large suitcase and
smaller carryon and a friend with the same set of luggage who cannot go down
stairs. We were at the top of the stairs
and long ramp. We did find a rail worker
that pointed us to the lift (elevator) so we could get ourselves and the
luggage down to what we thought was our platform at the OTHER end of the
station. No one has told anyone that
they aren’t quite sure which platform we are to go to as they don’t know themselves. Apparently, the Great Western Railway has decided
that this is the weekend to repair the rails between Bristol and Cardiff. Not good news to several thousand people ready
do leave for their Easter weekend. Also,
Friday and next Monday is a Bank Holiday so why not fix the railways now.
Of course, seating on the train was
on Coach B and we were standing at the beginning of the train and the alphabet
goes backwards on a train. Yes, 2nd
to last car. All the way back to the
other end of the station. You only have 15 min. to get on the train that waits
for no one.
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| St. Christopher - can't see his wings |
This is where we meet St. Christopher. I ran ahead to get my suitcase on our coach so
I could run back to get Rita’s bag and as I reach her, she is walking with the
sweetest young man pulling her bags. He
helps her on and places her luggage and makes sure she has the seat by the window. He said he would come back to help her unload
since we are all going to have to unload in Bristol and be put on a bus to
Newport only to get off the bus and back on to the train in Newport to take a
12 min. ride to Cardiff. Are you tired
yet?
As we were getting off the first leg
of this nightmare in Bristol, Rita scratched her arm and it started to bleed
like she had been shot. Here comes St.
Christopher who takes her off to First Aid.
Let’s just say I knew more first aid and had more first aid equipment
than the so called First Aid officer. So,
I put on some antibiotic and found gauze to wrap her arm. Then St. Chris continued to carry her bags to
the bus….we got the last bus. Now the 40
min. ride to Newport turned into 60 min because ….you got it…Easter Holiday
traffic jam. Probably, all the people kicked
off the train. We get to the train
station just in time to miss our train.
After another 45 min. wait, we find out the next train is only 2 coaches
for ALL those people kicked off the last train.
Rita was literally the last person on the train hanging on for dear
life. I found another couple of Angels
that pushed there way through and rescued Rita and made sure she had a seat AND
then they carried her luggage down the platform. We hugged and kissed this young couple like
they were our long-lost relatives. God
is good even in the midst of such a hair pulling experience and sent three of
the most wonderful young adults to minister to us when we were ready to just
sit down and cry.
I won’t continue about picking up the
rental car and my anxiety attack and getting to our B&B only to find no one
there and the key they left did not work.
There was a Pub about a block away and we joined the Friday crew
celebrating the end of the week drinking and dancing to 1950's music. Rita celebrated with a wonderful steak and me with a beer. Rita is now sound asleep in the very narrow twin bed next to me as I write this and hopefully, it will be a
better day tomorrow.
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| The Four Elms Pub -Est. 1859 |
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| Enjoying TGIF to 1950's music - very loud |
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| After this I am just walking...no more trains, buses or cars |
I'm going to tell Dan that when just said no to driving you two, I put the Isles at peril. Sounds like a really fun time, and I'm wishing I was there.
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