Contingency Plan

26th/27th June, 2008

I’d know about the liklehood of a strike by staff at Kings Cross station in London from 12:00 today (26th) but ‘management’ assurded the public of a normal service.

The presentation and talk that I gave to the assembled business process heads went very well, I thought. Afterwards, I travelled to Islington to visit my daughter, Laura, and her boyfriend, Tom (confusing, becuase my son’s called Tom). It was lovely to see her again and their new appartment.
She cooked for me a wonderful meal of roasted salmon and vegetables. I brought some wine with me, a Sancerre. Delicious! But Tom couldn’t make it as he had to work late for a client.

After our ‘Good byes’, I walked back to Caledonian Road Tube Station and the Kings Cross railway station.

That is when I found out about the power failure near Doncaster and the resulting signal failure in nearby Newark. The result: trains delayed by 45-60 minutes. So, my 21:00 would leave at 22:00 – no problem.
However, within 20 minutes of waiting, all trains were cancelled, except for one bound for Leeds at 23:30 (arriving 02:00).

I picture messgaed Laura with the cancellation board and she invited me to stay the night at her place.

Stranded

I let Debbie (my wife) know and headed back to Islington. Rain greated me as I exited Caledonian Road Tube Station. Fortunately, I carried a compact umbrella in my incase backpack

Tom had arrived home and was enjoying the portion of salmon that Laura had left back for him. We chatted, watched a little television before we all turned in for bed. Laura’s sofa was large and comfortable. I had a great night’s sleep and woke to a quiet, fresh morning. The rain had cleaned and cooled the muggy air from the night before. Laura’s neighbour’s cat, Doris, looked in on me and I ket her in for some stroking and a few cat treats.

 

Let me in!

 

 

 

After Greek yogurt, granola and berries, I thanked Laura and Tom and headed back, yet again, to Kings Cross. I caught the 08:00 to York and the trip was a peaceful, calm journey that bore no resemblance to the chaotic night before.

A 225 National Express

~ by oldvillain on June 27, 2008.