How was your day? (Random off topic chat)

Not seen the mince pies but the ‘tins’ of Quality Street were out in Aldi this morning.

My first long distance trip to see a musical since March 2020. Oklahoma! matinee today at Wakefield Theatre Royal. Rail travel from Kent in both directions. Journey up uneventful. Lovely theatre, wonderful production of one of my favourite musicals by a group of very talented young people.

Then the journey back to London.

Previous Cross Country train to Bristol arrived on time but seemed to be taking a long time to depart. I found out there were three or four ticketless passengers, all well-oiled, refusing to leave the train. Train manager insisting they must get off and he won't be leaving till they do. Police summoned. 35 minutes later they arrived - 7 of them. 5 minutes more and they were off the train and trying to complain to police and platform staff about the train manager's conduct. His train left.

My 18.29 London train therefore departed 40 minutes late. Signalling problem next, near a place called Fitzwilliam. Train had to proceed at caution through a red signal or two so almost an hour late leaving Doncaster. 20 minutes later we stopped again. This time a points problem we were told, it was being fixed but train not expected to move for about 15 minutes. The train manager was checking tickets and speaking to passengers in my carriage when there was a loud call for her. The person shouted something I didn't catch as well as her name, and hearing that she ran in the direction of the shout as did other staff including the driver(I saw his badge). It was very worrying - if it was a medical emergency the train was nowhere near a station with an ongoing points problem.

We were eventually told that a drunken passenger had operated the emergency button which released the doors and he had jumped off the train, across the line and could be seen near the tracks in the fields opposite ! Power had to be immediately switched off on both lines in case, we were told, he got back on the line to try to re-board the train in his inebriated state. Eventually we got going now 90 minutes late and lost another 10 minutes into London. Everyone was given a free cake and bottle of water and advised about delay repay.

There's no way of knowing whether we would have missed the subsequent problems if the train hadn't been delayed at Wakefield. The train manager was lovely, she handled things very well, sorting out subsequent connections, advising about taxis etc. I'll get my £12.20 fare back as will hundreds of other delayed passengers but not the best reintroduction to the joys of rail travel. Won't stop me making similar journeys, Bristol next time.

I remember an incident in London (though I wasn't personally involved) where a train was delayed and some passengers forced the doors open and got on to the track. It was in a third-rail area so the power had to be switched off, and it couldn't be switched on again until someone had walked the track to make sure everyone was accounted for. Several hours of delay to every train in the area.

FrontrowverPaul What a nightmare. One thing I have not missed with not being able to go to the theatre for most of the last 18 months is train delays!

Thanks for all the comments. I only find such delays stressful if I'm on my way TO a show. On a train or coach back to London I'm not too bothered about delays but there were about 10 horrible minutes yesterdaywhen we thought there was a medical emergency or worse on a stuck train, then we were told it was just a drunk idiot. I always take loads of food and drink on my trips plus a book for a train journey or CD player for a coach trip. and I can get a train from Victoria back to Kent as late as 00.40.

Got home 23.45 instead of 22.15, ate dinner 00.15, went to bed 01.15, got up 05.00 to go to the local boot fair as we always do, but it's catching up with me now and I declined Rush tickets to see Anything Goes from stalls row D an hour ago. Afternoon map beckons but will try to stay awake for EPOS.

"rusty" is probably right, @forrest.

Hey, did you get that Islington First idea on here

I had a hugely uplifting afternoon at The Barbican today, hope the same for you tomorrow at Swiss Cottage!

Per my previous comments about recent spider incursions, having read this article www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-49730011 I'm now wondering whether, having hoovered up lots of spiders in the last few weeks, rather then being cruel we're actually providing a dating service & there's a spider orgy going on inside the hoover bag!

just starting out with some good yoghurt and strawberries breakfast. hoping for a productive day on the writing desk

Just received my renewal 2 together railcard today , cutting it fine as I ordered it weeks ago and after calls, e mails etc it finally arrived . Needed it by today as travelling tomorrow to my parents for their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Will be great to meet up with the whole family on Saturday.

Not the best day so far. My dad came out of hospital last night having had a pacemaker and this morning complained of feeling dizzy so I took his pulse and it was 172 so I had to 999 an ambulance out and he’s back in hospital!!! He should be fine, they need to adjust something and he should be right, but calling 999 for a family member is not an experience I wish to repeat. It was bloomin horrible! Bless the NHS though they’re amazing!

Thanks. It. Was. HORRIBLE. He kept passing out cos his heart was going too fast and it took all I had to remain calm and give the paramedics the info they needed and not burst into tears! Plus my mum was in a state (and I have never seen her in a state before) so yeah, tough one. He’s in the right place though and it doesn’t seem life threatening but it was so scary, watching your Dad being stretchered out of your living room into an ambulance. Just glad I was there cos no one else thought to take his pulse!!! I’m also thankful I have a doctor friend who calmed me down after. Hug your ones, folks!