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Up to the North

Well I'm off up to Manchester this evening for the weekend. I hope it is going to be nice and warm and sunny! It's my Dad's birthday this weekend so it should all be fun. My little bro is coming back down with me when I return to the town that is Basingstoke. He's invading! The master techie geek of our family has come to live in my world of geekdom for a week... i do wonder how he will manage!

I wonder what the likelihood of the train being on time this time... Almost every time I have made this particular journey I have been delayed for one reason or another...

I wonder when the day is due to arrive when we get Wifi on the trains... That would be nice! Then I really wouldn't get bored on a train at all. I am still trying to decide whether to take my laptop on the train with me or not. It is something else to carry to and from the station... But it does mean that I have something to do on the train other than eat, read a book and listen to music... If anyone can think of some fun things to do on the train give me a hint... I need to make my journeys less boring...

posted @ Friday, August 19, 2005 8:57 AM

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# re: Up to the North

Left by Down to the South at 8/19/2005 11:51 AM
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The last time I had to catch a train was in February when I was commuting from "near Manchester" to central London nearly every day for a month. Overall, the experience wasn't too bad. 2hr 20mins to Euston was a typical journey and that's vastly improved over the 4 hours it used to take a couple of years back.

It relieve boredom you can try some of these "mental exercises":

* Count the number of trees whizzing by (good luck!)
* Sleep
* Work on some in-depth blog posts
* Work your way through a book of Su Doku puzzles
* SMS all your mates, moaning about how bored you are with phrases like "Oh, look! Another tree!" and "Oh, look! Another farmer's field with a burnt out car in it!"
* When you can see the M6, play "stop the blue Polo" as it might be me on my way to Oxford

Also, the trains do already have WiFi, but they use secure APs for their own systems. Bummer.

# re: Up to the North

Left by Neil Cowburn at 8/19/2005 11:53 AM
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It would be very difficult to play "stop the blue Polo" when you are on a train. I'd revise that to "spot the blue Polo" as it's much better for your personal safety and that of the passenger around you.

# re: Up to the North

Left by Sarah at 8/19/2005 11:59 AM
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Well there are a couple there that I could try... I'm not sure if I would manage the "in-depth" blog post bit... me and in depth just don't really go together at the end of a day in the office if you know what i mean....

I have never really figured out how to do those funny number puzzles... Maybe that will be my challenge this evening on the train.

# re: Up to the North

Left by Peter Foot at 8/19/2005 3:04 PM
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You need to get yourself a book of "I Spy Railway Excuses", then as the announcer apologises for the wrong kind of ducks on the signalbox roof, you can accrue a vast number of meaningless points...
Alternatively get yourself a sketchbook and learn to draw blurred trees (I believe it was Val Kilmer in Top Secret that inspired this one)

# re: Up to the North

Left by Sarah at 8/22/2005 5:50 AM
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lol... In the end I stuck with John Grisham on the way up and on the way back I had the laptop on watching the OC. At least it kept me occupied.

Oh and guess what! The train wasn't late in either directions. I was shocked... It was a first!

# re: Up to the North

Left by Neil at 8/23/2005 11:22 AM
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Cool! Late trains are a pain! Did your dad have a good birthday?

# re: Up to the North

Left by Sarah at 8/23/2005 11:25 AM
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Indeed he did. He got spoilt to death for a couple of days whilst i was up there. As he should be on his birthday weekend.

I even spent a couple of hours mowing the lawn like a good daughter! And no I will not do yours for you as well!

# re: Up to the North

Left by Neil at 8/26/2005 11:05 AM
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Heh. Chance would be a fine thing. I have no home to call my own at the moment. Stupid letting agents screwed things up, so I'm camping out on a friend's sofa bed until I get things sorted. Anyway, I'm pretty handy with a lawn mower :P

Good to hear your dad had a great birthday. My dad's birthday was recent and he was spoilt to death too, but given the news we had, that was to be expected.

# re: Up to the North

Left by Sarah at 8/26/2005 11:12 AM
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Threaten legal action on the agents & their client, you signed a contract and it is legally binding. They made the mistake so you are then entitled to compensation from either the landlord or the agent, whoever it was that made the mistake!

I'm glad to hear that your dad was also spoilt to death! He deserves it. I was really sad to hear about his illness. I hope he is doing ok. It's not nice to see anyone suffer.

How's your new job going. Are you getting on well with Kenni and the guys?!

# re: Up to the North

Left by Neil at 8/26/2005 11:24 AM
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Thanks for the thoughts about my dad. He's doing OK right now. He's a stubborn thing and won't let this get him down, so that's the angle I'm taking.

The job is great. I'm going to be doing some VERY exciting stuff for mobility. Keni has been great (that's a beer you owe me, K!) and the rest of the team are cool too. I will start posting some stuff to my Conchango blog when I finally get the login credentials.

Txt/phone me if you get bored of packing/moving :)

# re: Up to the North

Left by Sarah at 8/26/2005 11:27 AM
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I was going to say I don't have your number but that would be wrong... I even have your CV! ;)

I'm glad to hear your Dad's got the right attitude to it all.

You will have to let everyone know where your new blog is... I presume you are going to keep your old one as well?!

# re: Up to the North

Left by Neil at 8/26/2005 11:56 AM
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Yep, it's on the CV although last time I think you had problems with it. Will drop you a mail with the million ways I'm contactable. LOL

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