2nd January 2026

Happy New Year to anyone reading.I decided yesterday that as it's a new year. I'll now try and post on the day I'll drip feed in when possible some of the more interesting days from last July 25 to the end of the year.

The reason for this is the journey I'm starting today. Travelling north to Carlisle to stay with family for the weekend. Which, is not the easiest day to travel but from Monday I have an exciting few days. Going from Newcastle on Tyne to Inverness. Nairn, to be exact. Then from there to Campbelltown on the West of Scotland. Where I collect a car to go back to Peterborough. So over the next week I will hopefully have some amazing photos and the story of that journey.

Today though is the difficult trial of getting to Carlisle on a weekend the M6 at junction 39 to 40 is closed. Train?? No, they are closing that section of the train line from the north west to Carlisle too. Brilliant timing when it's the end of the holidays and all those people who clogged up the roads going somewhere for Christmas. Are now trying to get home.

Either the government agency in charge of this shit is stupid, or doing it deliberately. I can't decide which.

So five trains starting at 10.26 from Aylesbury arriving at Carlisle at 18.32

Means I have some time to post some more episodes of my travels.

The journey started badly already.

After walking from home with two bags on my back. I decided to treat myself to a cappuccino at Aylesbury station as I had time. I added a small bottle of water. The big mistake was I was distracted and didn't look at the prices. Coffee made, water bought, she asked me for £6.05.

I broke my own rule of never paying more than £2.50 for a coffee. What was I thinking? had I just ruined my journey?

Not only had I paid £4.20 for a small cappuccino. I had obviously paid £1.85 for a small bottle of water.

I decided to put it out of my mind and forget this horrendous start to my year and crack on.

So first stop is Princess Risborough. Not too busy so far.

Princess Risborough station

Then to Oxford. Even the horrendous, avoid at all costs, Bicester Village station was quiet and didn't have the usual tidal wave of gold-plated entitlement, boarding the train. At least there's not so many designer trainers resting their weary poor shopped out feeton the seats, thank god. Maybe my journey was going to be blessed after all.

At Oxford there was a short wait for the next train, heading for Manchester Piccadilly station. I was getting off at Coventry. No I hadn't been sent.

Again, thankfully Oxford station was not it's normal busy self.

Platform 4 had a bunch of people waiting for the same train. But I had a seat booked.

Tip; Don't always go for your booked seats. Look for the green lights showing available seats on a different carriage. Sometimes these are quieter. If not you have the backup of your booked seat.

I had to find my booked seat, but unfortunately someone sat in the next seat decided she wanted my seat for her bags and suitcase. Not sure why people can't use luggage racks?

Thankfully I was only going a few stops and Tip 2; don't always book the most direct train on busy periods. If you have to stand. Then it's not for as long

My point about the booked seat was proved right at Coventry. Getting on the next leg of the journey the train from Coventry to Wigan..I watched carefully as the train came in the front few carriages were empty I could see the green available lights and jumped on.

Couldn't have been more comfortable.

Coventry to Wigan in comfort.

Onwards to Wigan. Where there was an hour's wait.

Thankfully the train was actually sitting on the platform waiting so I could board and get comfortable.

Again very quiet and I settled into some work.

A family boarded and sat on the tabled four seat area next to me. The mother of the two young children apologised immediately for the noise. I just said it's not a problem, as of course, it wasn't.

The mother just started talking about her journey and where they had started from earlier this morning. She said Wiltshire and asked where I had started from. I think this was because we were on a train from Wigan to Carlisle which was about to take over three hours to avoid the rail closures happening.

Cutting a long conversation short. It turned out we had both lived in Dumfries, Scotland. Where she was born. Both lived in Brentford, West London. Knew various people in common from DJ's we had both worked with. To the Duke of Marlborough who terrorised her town with I sold a car to him.

From the people we had both known. And lives led. There was a lot of coincidences. For two strangers on a train in Wigan.

Her life also mirrored my late wife in many ways. Being a singer and dancer. Even born in the same place in Dumfries. And we met in a train station. I don't believe in coincidence. But this was a weird conversation for the next few hours.

Until we disappeared into the cold dark Carlisle night. I hope they found their bus to Lockerbie.

As easy as I walked the twenty minutes to my families home

So, from Aylesbury Buckinghamshire to Carlisle. Ticket bought yesterday. Ok there were a few changes but all simple and quick.. for only £48.00. Buying train tickets is just one thing you can learn about doing this work. This is one small aspect of the job and this alone can save you the cost of joining our program in just one month. To find out more click here

So now a weekend of relaxation before the long drives from Newcastle to Inverness and across to Campbelltown, Western Scotland.