Sunday 3 May. Halifax

Well, it’s been quite a day. Up and out nice and early, and a taxi close by which took me to Euston Station. I was an hour early for my train to Manchester but luckily found a seat, as the number of people was growing. Thought I’d grab the opportunity for a WhatsApp call to Anne. I had to suddenly break off the call as the platform number for the Manchester train came up on the screen and hordes of people, virtually everyone in the station started running for that platform.

I joined them at a more decorous pace. The hordes were scrambling onto the train so I went quite a way along before climbing aboard, only to discover that every seat I passed had been booked. This was at 9.00 on a Sunday morning! I hopped off the train and continued even further along and had just about decided to wait for the next train when one of the people told me that all the trains would be booked out because Liverpool was playing Manchester in Manchester that afternoon. The hordes were going to the football!

So I climbed aboard and found a spot near a door, where I was helped to put my case under the luggage rack. There I was with three blokes, two standing and one sitting on the luggage rack. He made room and I was able to sit beside him with my feet dangling. There were others in the aisle and more in the area where the carriages join.

It turned out to be a most entertaining journey listening to hair-raising stories about the experiences of the chap who had been in the police. The guy next to me was just a nice bloke from Guildford and the third was a young man from Gundiwindi. He works for the Queensland Government in business promotion. 

I saw no scenery on my “quiet” Sunday ride to Manchester but had a great, though less than comfortable, time. Once there I changed platforms and caught another train to the airport, then spent quite a while finding the shuttle bus for the car rental park. Eventually I was in the car and on the motorway heading for Halifax. It felt like it took hours but was probably not much more than an hour to go 45 miles. 

The hotel I’m in has no parking so after dropping my luggage off I was directed to the local shopping centre car park. Finally in my room, only to discover that my gorgeous, huge bathroom had a leak in the ceiling and water was dripping into a puddle on the floor. Back to reception and changed to another room with a tiny shower in the bathroom.

By now I was exhausted and a bit lightheaded, I think from the motion of the train and also lack of food. I went around the corner to a peri peri chicken place and had a very ordinary meal. It’s cold and damp here and I’m very happy to be tucked up in a much better bed than I had in London.