To Blackpool . . . eventually
Today mum and I went to Blackpool to see the sea . . . and my wedding dressmaker . . . eventually.
What a journey. Derby to Sheffield and then to Manchester Piccadilly was a breeze. Then everything went wrong.
There had apparently been a bad industrial fire at Salford so everything was delayed or cancelled or comprised a bus service. We ended up on a bus to Bolton, which took forever. Then at Bolton (oh, by the way I forgot to mention it had been raining all morning), we were told to go to Platform 4 for an 11.33 train to Blackpool North. Then over the tannoy, go to the station forecourt for a bus. The bus never came and hundreds of us were sent back to Platform 4 for a train that would arrive in "about 15 minutes". Which came and went and eventually the train arrives at just before midday. Finally . . . we arrive at Blackpool at 1.30pm! Two hours later than we originally intended. Now we had no time to look around and had to find the tram to Bispham, again not clearly marked. Then a roughly 3/4 mile walk the other end. We arrived at the dressmaker's half an hour late at 2.30pm, although I had called her ahead to tell her we'd be late. She had no sitting room furniture (awaiting a delivery) so we had to sit on the floor (my mother not pleased). I showed the dressmaker my designs, which she really liked and we chose fabrics and colours. Half an hour later I know the price (very reasonable) but leave £500 lighter. (That's bread and water for me then for the foreseeable future.)
We walked back up the long road and stopped off at a cafe for coffee, then got the tram back to the town centre, walked up to the station and the travel nightmare begins again. Our intended trains were cancelled so we decided to go via York, but got off at Leeds it took so long, then another delayed train to Sheffield and yet another delayed train to Derby/Burton. Mum leaves the train at 10.30pm and I reached Burton 15 minutes later, and got a taxi. Total travelling time (round trip): 12+hours.
I can see the funny side of it though. Who else but a nutcase would make a 12+ hour round-trip with her retired, arthritic mother to see a dressmaker for half an hour?
I rest my case.
Catherine.
What a journey. Derby to Sheffield and then to Manchester Piccadilly was a breeze. Then everything went wrong.
There had apparently been a bad industrial fire at Salford so everything was delayed or cancelled or comprised a bus service. We ended up on a bus to Bolton, which took forever. Then at Bolton (oh, by the way I forgot to mention it had been raining all morning), we were told to go to Platform 4 for an 11.33 train to Blackpool North. Then over the tannoy, go to the station forecourt for a bus. The bus never came and hundreds of us were sent back to Platform 4 for a train that would arrive in "about 15 minutes". Which came and went and eventually the train arrives at just before midday. Finally . . . we arrive at Blackpool at 1.30pm! Two hours later than we originally intended. Now we had no time to look around and had to find the tram to Bispham, again not clearly marked. Then a roughly 3/4 mile walk the other end. We arrived at the dressmaker's half an hour late at 2.30pm, although I had called her ahead to tell her we'd be late. She had no sitting room furniture (awaiting a delivery) so we had to sit on the floor (my mother not pleased). I showed the dressmaker my designs, which she really liked and we chose fabrics and colours. Half an hour later I know the price (very reasonable) but leave £500 lighter. (That's bread and water for me then for the foreseeable future.)
We walked back up the long road and stopped off at a cafe for coffee, then got the tram back to the town centre, walked up to the station and the travel nightmare begins again. Our intended trains were cancelled so we decided to go via York, but got off at Leeds it took so long, then another delayed train to Sheffield and yet another delayed train to Derby/Burton. Mum leaves the train at 10.30pm and I reached Burton 15 minutes later, and got a taxi. Total travelling time (round trip): 12+hours.
I can see the funny side of it though. Who else but a nutcase would make a 12+ hour round-trip with her retired, arthritic mother to see a dressmaker for half an hour?
I rest my case.
Catherine.