Between Stations

Meandering thoughts from a train journey to London

LNER 7:30am, safe passage secured

Reading the news the night before, I wasn’t sure there was going to be a train this morning. A light dusting of snow on our road, nothing on the main artery. I got to the station early, 6:55am for a 7:30 departure. I could have made the 7 as I hit the steps on the concourse. I’m sure if I’d have booked the 7, I would have been there for the 6:30. Better to be early than late, I tell myself. The train left bang on time and straight off the bat breakfast was served. I’m at the age that I thought why not try first class, booked far enough in advance that the uplift wasn’t that much extra and I needed to work anyway. I’d brought my own egg sandwiches just in case, doubling up for lunch if needed. I’ve been on too many journeys over the years where the train has sat in the middle of nowhere waiting for something to clear on the line ahead. I hope as I type this I don’t jinx it.

Setting off in the pitch black, the dark gently gives way to the dawn and the rolling wintry countryside flies by and with it my thoughts get to meander. Reflecting on the new year and how quickly we are here at the 9th of January. It dawns on me it was my grandma’s birthday. My thoughts turn to the time she took my sister and I to Blackpool on the train. A huge treat she kept secret until the day of the departure. The journey just as special as the pick and mix we got to choose at Woolworths. All part of the journey.

Today’s treat: a full English and my rambling thoughts.

LNER, train breakfast.

I didn’t partake in any thoughts about New Year’s resolutions this year. It’s been more about identity, thinking about the person I want to be. A person who is better at time management, making sure my body can see me through the next twenty years and making better use of the cookbooks for a healthy diet. Not sure the full English fits with that ideal, but I’ve never felt that starting a diet in mid-January is a good idea. And I’ve never had a full English on a train before!

On the cooking front... there isn’t a lot to report. It’s all been about the leftovers. The turkey saw us through that middle quiet week and at some point I cooked ham in the slow cooker which served us for New Year’s Eve. The rest saw us through this week. It’s been a serial number of Ready Steady Cook-type moments, beating sell-by dates on the cheese and generally making sure we don’t waste anything. The odd top-up of onions, sprouts and parsnips! My son worked the fruit and veg aisle at the local supermarket with tales of running out of parsnips which had folk fuming at him as though Christmas was ruined. I can safely say we managed.

Those who read my last post back in the kitchen will know I was looking forward to a book token, which I did indeed receive. In fact I got two!! So I spent a good couple of hours trying to pick the best book ever that covered everything I wanted, ever, in a book... I nearly walked away with nothing, so much was the pressure and so much choice, like a rabbit in the headlights. I’ve still got my eye on Helen Goh’s baking and meaning of life book... but I’ve not really done my Philip Khoury book from the previous year justice. I nearly bought Jeremy Lee’s book on cooking, but I’ve still not done the other books in my collection justice either... and so my thoughts rambled on as I stroked covers and ummed and ahhed over the choices. In the end, I plumped for a cookbook that aligns with a local farm, ‘Gloagburn’, that we frequent every so often. Full of great values around animal husbandry and fresh seasonal produce. I wish I’d brought it with me to mention some of the recipes.

As the train rolls into Newcastle, I’ve had too much coffee and text the WhatsApp group with the question... how many free coffees is safe? A prompt response comes back as 6! I think I’ve maxed out on two. Like Avengers assemble, my pals and I are gathering in London.

I’m furthest away so set off first. Northallerton and Sheffield, the others. They don’t need to leave till later. I share the picture of my breakfast, the snow out the door. They come back with jokes and various weather reports. The worries of Storm Goretti putting paid to this long overdue gathering were unwarranted. Then a tale of one train having no hot water, so no tea in first class. Then the trolley that goes by only being allowed to sell to the folks in 2nd class. Two different companies working on one train. Craziness.

There is something about a solo train trip that I love. I sometimes think I should just book a train to somewhere, nowhere in particular, and then come back the same way. The freedom it gives my mind.

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On my way back now, a slight hiccup at King’s Cross. The brakes faulted out and we need to swap trains at the last minute. Amazingly a train free on the next platform with all the seat reservations valid, and only delayed by 20 minutes. The 11:30 ambled out the station and within half an hour I’m seeing overflowing rivers and ponds.

Battersea Power Station

I cast my mind to the japes and renewed friendship for making the effort. We explored Battersea Power Station¹. An amazing conversion and feat of design. We took the chimney tour and learned about the building’s history. How coal was turned to electricity, powering Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament and beyond. They’ve left the dials and gauges in place around the building and it makes for a fascinating visit.

Followed by the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy immersive play. Some nice touches and some good performances, albeit it was lacking the story to thread it together. It wasn’t really about either of the tourist attractions. It was about catching up, over noodles, fish and chips. Perhaps a couple of beers and some thirty years on of friendship, the conversations turning to retirement and next steps.

1. Battersea Power Station: A Brief History

Designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (who also gave us the red telephone box), Battersea Power Station was built in phases between 1929 and 1955, becoming one of the largest brick buildings in Europe. It supplied electricity to London for decades before decommissioning. The station gained international fame when Pink Floyd used it for their 1977 “Animals” album cover—complete with an inflatable pig that famously broke free during the photo shoot and drifted across London airspace before landing in Kent. The building has since been transformed into a mixed-use development whilst preserving its iconic Art Deco exterior and four-chimney silhouette.