Sunday 28th November 2021

The train trundled the last miles into Euston, dropping us off at platform 4. All other trains had left for the night, the station concourse was empty, no one waiting for one last train.

Out into the cool night air, I gave my last change to a guy wrapped in a grubby duvet, he would be spending the night out on the street, this very street, he was trying to collectenough money to pay for a night in a shelter.

The original plan was to spend the night in the hotel at St Pancras station, but in the two weeks when I first looked at prices and last weekend, all rooms had gone. The other side of the British Library was the Pullman, we were booked in there.

We find our way into the lobby, just dog tired and wanting to get to bed, the poor guy on the desk had to try to sell us a £27 pound breakfast.

We declined.

We stumbled into the lift to take us to the 12th floor, and getting out, the panoramic window revealled the view to the City, all dark buildings silhouetted against the lighter sky, all topped by flashing red aviation lights.

Just breathtaking.

I take shots.

We open the door to our room, get undressed, brush our teeth and go to bed. Darkness took us.

[six hours passed.]

We woke up at dawn, and the views over to The City were almost as good.

I took more shots.

We had showers, got dressed and went down to check out. We had an hour and twenty minutes before the first train to Dover, from Charing Cross, as the high speed line was closed.

We went onto the Underground and took a Piccadilly Line train to Leicester Square, deciding to walk the last quarter mile to the station.

We walked past theatres, restaurants and ancient pubs, along the side of Trafalgar Square, cutting through to the station.

I went to Costa to buy coffees and Jools went to the pasty shop to buy, well, you can guess.

All done, and our train was waiting on platform four, so we show our tickets and walk to the front of the eight coaches, nearing the end of the platform, and almost on the start of Hungerford Bridge.

I go to take more shots, so you know we were really there.

Sitting at a table, we eat our pasties as the train moved off crossing over the river, through Waterloo East past Borough Market to London Bridge, then through a maze of junctions into the suburbs of south east London and into the countryside.

It took an hour and 50 minutes, twice as long as the high speed, but we were in no realy hurry.

We get off at Dover, go through the barriers and find all four wheels were still on the car.

Which was nice.

We threw our stuff in the boot and drive off, along Townwall Street and up Jubilee Way to home, getting back at five to eleven.

We put the heating up, put on the kettle and make brews.

The cats had learned how to say "meh" in a meow, but they did sniff around in case we would like to feed them, but Gary had done a fine job in keeping their bowls full.

It was took cold to go out, so we put the washig on, drink coffee, eat cakes and later I watch football.

It was snowing elsewhere in the country, making football even more of a lottery than before. Between the two games we had dinner, some more of the things Jools made on her course on Friday, plus some curried rice. All very nice with a glass of wine.

Chelsea played Man Utd, a poor game which ended 1-1, but it passed the time.

We skipped supper and instead went straight to bed, me taking in a chapter of JCC's book before sleep took me again.