18th Aug 2019
After a very slow walk around with Dad we returned to the tent around 2000. There was a bit of getting lost, Dad not being able to fill up the car, and some extra food shopping for the evening.
I took Mam to the kitchen area for chopping of veg and chicken. I sliced my thumb on the first onion and needed the help.
My cooking was okay, but I needed seasoning. But with bread and cheese, and dropped pan on second helpings it was fine. My bottles of strong beer helped. The two bottles I left were 8% and 9%! The evening went well and I headed for my tent at 2230. Then it rained and my tent was fine. It poured down overnight.
I unpegged the tent and brough it under cover to wipe it down and to see if I could make repairs to the sleeping area.
Around 1330 we made our way for Roubaix to see the famous velodrome. I had no idea where it was and relied on sign posts showing us the way. I kind of knew what to expect, couldn’t tell you what exactly I was expecting to see. I didn’t have a clear image from watching it on TV. We had a quick photo stop and headed to Lille, with a few wrong turns. Dad had been hungry since breakfast and couldn’t find an open shop on the way to Roubaix on a Sunday. Luckily, it was only a short while before I found a Frittery and some chips. At 1630 I set them on their way.
It’s 1720 and I’m in a waiting room, but not next to a charger. My E-star is 9157, car 16, seat 61. I’m bored of this waiting room.
2.30 Euro bought me a seat in a coffee place next door. The wifi works from here too! It’s almost 1800 so I should be able to get through security soon and get back home. KXSP is a much grander station than Lille, but it will do the job. I can’t believe it only takes 1hr 22mins to get to London. I should believe it, because it does. All of which makes me ask why I haven’t done this before. The’re loads of reasons.
I’m full of chips, but I’ll still manage my meal on the train. The next time I travel, I’ll only be in Standard and not Standard Premier.
Things to do when I get home:
- Turn the water on
- Turn the water heater on
- Start the car, tomorrow
- See if I have any mail
- Hope nothing bad happened when I was away
- Think about what to do next
- Fix the mifi
- Dry the tent
- Wash the sleeping mat
- Wash the pillow
- Google Hogan tent repair
- Find insurance claim details
- Price new Chromebook
- Wash kit
- Book smart meter fitting
- Job hunt
- Improve blog
- Spend more time outside
- Price up new phone or O2 contract
- Second hand classical guitar?
- Small keyboard?
- Do stuff
- Less coffee
- Less food
- Join Clubeurostar
- How many BA points do I have?
- See Eels abroad
Quick note on the train: Food great, journey great, 1946 and almost at KXSP. Train wifi not connecting to the internet!
28. Go to the doctor about neck pain
29. Via Ferrata!
30. Type up two weeks of notes
31. Wattch Vienna documentary on Youtube
32. Read the Hyperstructures book
2037 and I’m using the pass for the final time to get home. 1st Class, I should have used it on the way out. Anyway, 1st Class should be abolished. There’s no point in having empty seats on a packed train. This is a rare treat.
Tomorrow will be a strange day. I’ll have to start a new normal. I’ll start with my list of things.
Words of Nonsense 