It’s became a tradition that I go to my daughter for Christmas.
I left home on the 22nd December weighed down with my gifts for my daughter and grandson… and the gifts from my sister and eldest son… plus of course my clothes for the next 8 days.
2 back packs, and a messenger bag made me feel overloaded and overwhelmed.
I got to my closest station (19 minutes walk away) feeling slightly frayed around the edges.
The wait for the first train passed swiftly as I chatted with the person assisting me and discussed the upcoming 2 days when there is no rail travel as staff get there annual Christmas and Boxing Day off to be with their families (at least the railway hasn’t turned into the Scrooge that is retail where only Christmas Day are the shops shut). The young man was looking forward to his family time though being Muslim wouldn’t be celebrating Christmas.
As ever the wait at Stevenage was short and the assistance fine though as the staff were helping multiple people they were buzzing around like busy bees. Soon I was on my way to Doncaster and eating my lunch.
My Boxing Day Box with Olivier Salad (pulled Wiltshire ham with Olivier salad, piccalilli, pickled cornichons and onions, Cheddar cheese. red cabbage, red onion, cherry tomatoes and spinach) was as delicious as ever but the only choice as the others had already been served. Of course the only pudding left was the Banana Maple pot (for me they could have left off the maple) and I finished with the Crisps. As I finished my leisurely lunch I enjoyed the blur outside the window until Doncaster.
The photo above is deceptively calm as the assistance staff huddled up to get their next assignments after a train full of passengers has just left and the platform was unusually emptied (but soon refilled with passengers who moved over from other platforms to get their connecting trains). I love seeing the member of the cleaning staff quietly getting on with their work nearby.
As a connecting hub Doncaster is always a busy station but at this time of the year it heaves with passengers.
The wait for my last train wasn’t long.
After the rush of the Stevenage to Doncaster train the train to Cleethorpes feels like a river lazily meandering, as I gaze at the blur beyond the window.
Arriving at Cleethorpes and getting off on a crowded platform felt overwhelming before I I heard my daughter call “Mum we’re here!”
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to not seeing my family members as they stand in front of me as an unrecognisable blur.
My grandson was eager to get back home as he had a video call/ gaming session with his friend so went ahead.
When my daughter and I got in he was upstairs conversing with his friend as they played a game… and so my stay began.
Part 2 will be with you soon.
Was that a dinosaur? 2.0 
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