What can I say about SADE?
I am lost for words........
S....... Sade
A...... Amazing
D...... Delectable
E........ Entertainer

I'd like to thank DOS man for making tonight a memorable night for us

I took a change of outfit to work today
Why?
Well...... a slight detour after work took me to the O2, London Arena to see SADE in concert. This is her first concert after eighteen years. I had the company of my number two daughter and my 'not so' baby sister. A treat we planned to savour and imprint in our memories for a very long time
So from Covent Garden to Green Park station to board the Jubilee line train to North Greenwich up stairs then escalators and out into the O2 London Arena. After queuing to buy memorabilia.........t-shirts, photographic booklets, posters et al, we wander to the land of eateries......... restaurants galore! From East to West, from Thai to Italian and finally settling for Brazilian, an unknown restaurant to my good self, Rodizio Rico. For twenty three pounds you could eat until your hearts content......... the waiters were forever bringing assortments of meat, brown meat, white meat and fish. We washed it down with.......Pina Colada, Mango and Passion fruit cocktail and a local Brazilian beer (mine was the Pina Colada

I've just found out something about the fatality that caused my train from Kings Cross to stop at Hatfield.......
The dead man's name was Martin Collett who it's claimed murdered his ex-girlfriend, Angela Hoytt a few days before (Tuesday)
They were both in their mid-thirties
What is wrong with the human race when one believes they have the right to take another's life (homicide) and then theirs (suicide)?
Life is so precious......... Use it, don't abuse it!
A little bit of; love, compassion, respect, tolerant et al goes a long way
TRY IT!

The train went all the way back to Finsbury Park, stopped for a while before going onward and forward to Biggleswade then St Neots. So my journey that began at one minute past eleven arrived at St Neots at one o'clock in the early hours of Saturday morning. I also had to wait for another taxi as my booked one was not there  

"Blah! Blah! Blah!........there's been a fatality ahead of us..... Blah! Blah! Blah!......going back via Pottersbar Blah! Blah! Blah!"

Blah! Blah! Blah!......any competent train driver on the train.......please come to the front and make yourself known"
Laughter was heard around the carriage!
"I've always wanted to drive a train!"
More laughter!
"I'll drive"
More laughter
And throughout all this a man sleeps, snoring LOUDLY oblivious to his surroundings
We have a table full of Americans and they thought it was hilarious  
 

Went to the Adelphi theatre to watch 'Love Never Dies' a musical directed by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, a sequel to the brilliant 'Phantom of the opera'
I saw the latter some ten years........maybe more.......and thought it magnificent and tonights show was the icing on the cake! Tonight was a spur of the moment..... spontaneous booking....... two days ago, to be exact
Next week, I'm off to see 'Sade' at the 02
I'm looking forward to it
I just realise that the train has stopped. I kook out into the dark night and see 'Hatfield'.......
No reason given as to why we're here....
"I don't know what's wrong at the moment, I can't get hold of anyone Blah! Blah! Blah!"
"That's reassuring then!" chirps a male commuter
"I've just been informed that the train in front has hit si
something and they're investigating" the driver informs us
Here we go!
Let the countdown begin........
We've been here approximately five minutes, eleven twenty
I may have to put in for a claim

Standing patiently at platform five waiting for the one minute past eleven train to open it'd doors
"Hello, I'd like to order a taxi...... I'll be on the minute past eleven train"
"Where to?
"To Blah! Blah! Blah!"
"Your name?"
"My name is Blah! Blah! Blah!"
OK! See you soon...... bye"
"Bye"

Westbound platform five Piccadilly line service to Northfields
Standing room only but not packed
I train surf to the next station, Russell Square where we're gently reminded to let 'passengers off first'
Some commuters listen some barge in regardless
Next station is Holborn
An announcement is heard
This train will be held here for a short time to even out the........
What the F***! excuses after f****** excuses!

Stevenage arrived and commuters embark and sit
I am still sat alone and happy to have two seats to myself

08:14......... I am sat on the train to Kings Cross sitting on my own next to a vacant seat. There are plenty of empty seats on this train
"Blah! Blah! Blah!........ bye"
"I'm sorry about that..... It's a friend.... Blah! Blah! Blah!..... started her new job..... Blah! Blah! Blah!..... the new colleagues are........ Blah! Blah! Blah!
I'm gathering her friend is already not happy in her new job

Just as I was getting ready to cross over to Station Road.......
"Good morning"
I turned to see a female cyclist waving at me with a big smile enveloping her face. She dismounts and catches up with me. It's a part-time train buddy, my South African friend.
"Good morning"
"I heard you'd moved"
"Not quite yet..... We're waiting for the contact to be signed. I told her about the saga with Taylors estate agent in St Neots, how the staff were useless and why
She informs me that she has moved, hence cycling to the station and the headache she encountered with the whole process
"I understand the eight twenty to Kings Cross is now eight seventeen"
"I think it's earlier than that" she replied
"Well, I better get a move on then!"
"Have a nice long weekend" I said, rushing through the barrier
"You too.......see you next week"
We parted as I head for platform four just as the train is pulling in
She was heading towards platform one for the Peterborough train

06:45........ I finally get out of bed and pace around the bedroom arranging my outfit for the day (weather taken into account)
I begrudgingly make my way to the bathroom and do my bathroom ritual

05:45....... The alarm went and although my mind is wanting, my body is not!
Sooooo
A fight ensues and..........
A lie in it is!

It's gathering speed as it enters a tunnel, then another
It's times like these that I wish I drove to the station

Oh dear.........the train is slowing down...........surely not 'due to RAIN ON THE TRACK!'

I'm feeling rather damp and miserable....... I look at other commuters and i see my mirror image.........damo and miserable!
I think I'll take a nap........
Sssssnnnoooozzzz

18:00..........sitting on the eighteen ten about weather beaten and sitting next to a 'number one haircut' middle-aged gentleman in a suit. He us reading the 'Evening Standard'
18:06........and the last few available seat are going fast! Four minute before departure and there are no more seats available
I'm now thinking of my walk home, wondering if it's raining in St Neots as well
18:08......... More people traipsing into one carriage, walking through to the next so their not left behind
18:10.......... We're off!

Eastbound Piccadilly line train to Kings Cross
The train is semi packed with drenched smelly commuters and to make matters worse, I'm standing with the BO lovers..........not by choice!

Going down the escalators towards Piccadilly line I felt as if I was in a scene from 'American Warewolf in London'....where is everybody?
Aaaaah! Ha!
They're all at the platform....... ofI course!

As I walk down the last flight of steps, I can hear the chitter chatter of the usual suspects....... There seems to be a full house!
"Good morning all"
"Good morning" a chorus from some of the train buddies, some smile, some neither a smile nor a greeting
We chat until the train arrived
"Good morning"
"Good morning"
More train buddies...... We took over the carriage with loud bunter (at times crude) laughter
Platform five, Kings Cross arrival and we go our separate ways, wishing each other "Have a good day"

06:43....... Out of the house and into a grey gloomy weather that has befallen St Neots. My walk to St Neots station was quiet, three newspaper boys cycled past me each carrying a luminous bag, a couple of (London) city commuters cycling to the station and a couple of dog walkers

I entered the station hub at eleven minutes past seven. As I walk towards the barrier I spot two train buddies, my namesake and an adopted daughter...... we exchange smiles
I am now holding my breathe......... Willing the new replacent ticket to work
And it did!
As I made my way up the steps I spot another train buddy making her way into the hub...... Long tall Sally......we exchange smiles

05:45.......got out of bed in disgust! B***** cats!
In my world
I've stormed out of the house, spotted both cats, grabbed hold of them and.......(forgive me cat lovers) BINNED THEM!

05:48......... An abrupt disturbance to my sleep........ A sharp cry outside my drive, I bolted upright and peered through the wooden blinds and saw.............two cats!
Needless- to-say I couldn't get back to sleep

I'm beginning to feel  paranoid 
why?
Well my season train ticket that I replaced on Monday (for the tenth times in the past two weeks) is no longer working by Wednesday ........... I've replaced the replacement ticket (confused? how the f*** do you think I feel!)
But it doesn't end there.........
Yesterday I couldn't blog
Why?
Every time I tried to log on it re-directs me! I've started having withdrawal system so I've taken to reading on the train again. I have ventured out of my comfort zone of 'murder mysteries' and reading ' The Five People You Meet in Heaven' by Mitch Albom  a rather compelling read 

7:44......... Trains arrives and leaves on time. I am sat next to a gentleman with his head upside down....... Hairy chin, bald head
He's wearing black suit and has a rucksack on his lap. He wears thick rimmed glasses. He is in sleep mode
Stevenage introduces it's working residents but alas, standing room only
It's oh so quiet, only the echo of the wind outside can be heard

I decided to return to the station hub and get..........yep!......... Another replacement ticket!
After asking for the eigth replacement card in two weeks the First Capital Conmect staff behind the counter retorted.......
"Well, last year a woman replaced her season ticket two hundred and forty times"
"I reckon I'm not far behind!"
He handed me my nee replacement
"Thank you"
My mother raised me well
In my world.......
"Shut the f*** up! I don't give a d*** about the f****** woman. Just do your job and give me a ticket that does it's job

Missed the 07:17 this morning.......... I saw it at the platform from the station hub
Tried as I might to 'elegantly' shuffle myself up the steps, across the bridge and ............ Too late! The doors mocked me as it slammed shut it's doors, smiled wickedly and left, leaving me half way across the bridge

I'm sat on the six ten train from Kings Cross
Today I decided to put on the reading glasses and skimmed through the free 'Evening Standard' newspaper and read an absurd piece of news report...........
'Fraud case delayed for suspect 'too fat to fit in dock'
Appaerently she was 'clinically obese' to climb the stairs to a narrow secure doorway into the dock of the court!!!!
In my world........ In my next life I am going to eat myself silly, get FAT and commit as many crimes as I can and then I CAN CLAIM TO BE 'OBESE'
What the F**** is wrong with PEOPLE!!

"Blah! Blah! Blah!........ EU law has cut the volume of the iPod Blah! Blah! Blah!
An overheard conversation by two workmen at Covent Garden
Well I for one will not be complaining

Guess what?
Brand new replacement..........didn't f****** work!
So off I trek to ' replace' AGAIN!
It's too beautiful a morning to be frustrated but you get the gest?
I can't wait for the weekend!

FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT........... I am at my wits end! And I f****** wish you just get your fingers out and sort yourselves out!
If I had LOST MY TICKET mote than once you CHARGE a nominal fee of ten pounds but one the shoe is on the 'commuters' other foot.......you don't give a F***!
you're going to be no loss when I don't have to;
Pay your exuberant prize for a season ticket....... Five f****** thousand one f****** hundred and eighty pounds
Queue up to be let through the barrier by Transport for London staff
Queue up on numerous occasions to get a replacement
Thank God it's Friday........ Weekend respite from YOU....... FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT!

I remembered to stop at St Neots' hub for a replacement season ticket AGAIN
"My ticket's not working AGAIN!"
"I'm sorry....... she said apologetically as I handed her the 'useless' ticket
I was fuming inside but outside I kept my composure and waited calmy for another (possible useless) ticket
"Thank you"
"You're welcome" I lied
Here's fingers crossed fir tomorrow!

I don't F*******! BELIEVE IT!
My season train ticket is screaming 'SEEK ASSISTANCE' AGAIN!
It f****** worked for..........now let me count............
ONE F****** DAY!
F****** FIRST F****** CAPITAL F****** CONNECT!
I AM NOT AMUSED!

07:12........ On entering the station hub I spot three train buddies huddled near the farside barrier....... My namesake, our honorary female train buddy, the good doctor and our funny banker
"Good morning all....... New meeting place?"
"Good morning"
We then proceeded to go through the barrier, up the steps, across the bridge, down the steps on to platform four
A couple more minutes, a couple more train buddies and after the morning greetings, we chat amongst ourselves until the train arrives
On entering the train, we spot some more train buddies and head towards them
I am sat next to our honorary female train buddy, the good doctor and we chatted all the way to Kings Cross

06:45.......... Onward and forward to St Neots station
I met a couple walking their dogs, a young boy cyclist passes by with his bright yellow empty newspaper satchel......... I'm guessing his just finished his newspaper round, another cyclist on the otherside cycling towards the station

"I don't know why people drink in a train!"
I heard a teenage boy say to his girlfriend whilst holding hands and their feet stretched out and on the seats opposite..........
Talk about POT........KETTLE..........BLACK!
'I don't f****** know why people put their feet on seats!!!'

So here I am on the nine twenty-two from platform eleven bee (loosers playform) not looking forward to the two mile walk home from St Neots station
I look out of the moving station and darkness stared back at me.........
After deliberating I have decided to call for a taxi to meet me at the station
I am feeling tired and rundown

Took the train from St James's Park heading for Victoria station then onto Kings Cross
Sounds familiar?
Yes............it should do! It's my old route to Kings Cross
I had a meeting then attended a farewell drink up for an ex colleague 
Another one bites the dust! Joining the great club called 'Retirement'

Standing at the Piccadilly line platform at Kings Cross after missing a train by a split second.......or was it nano seconds? Who knows AND who cares........ I missed it!
Next station is Russell Square........ Next station is Holborn........ Oh! I forgot....... Standing room only
"Mind the gap please" A gently reminder is announced on the tannoy
My station is next....... Covent Garden yes!

"Ladies and Gentleman" begins the male voice on the tannoy
"There are one hundred and ninety three steps blah! blah! blah!...........
"The equivalent to a fifteen storey blah! blah! blah!.....
I think I'll take the lift thanks!

Running a tad late this morning hence leaving home at six fifty
I power walked it to St Neots station with an occasional burst of jogging
07:14....... At St Neots' station hub, all clammy....... Me thinks another quick shower is needed!
I met a train buddy on the way into the hub
"Good morning"
"Good morning" I thought I was going to miss it!"
"I saw you walking fast"
And we walked up the steps together talking as we go. Then across the bridge and down the steps into the bosom of other train buddies and 'aliens' invading 'our' spot of the platform
"Good morning all"
"Good morning" A chorus of morning greetings heard
Within minutes the train arrived and we all managed to be seated in 'our special' carriage
"Good morning"
"Good morning"
Greetings to mire train buddies from Huntingdon and Peterborough

I'm sat at the three by two banks of seats, me and three men;
Gentleman sat beside me is in formal attire, wearing spectacles, bald but with hair sprouting at the sides........reading a paperback book
The man sitting opposite me is also suited and booted, wearing a trenchcoat. He is older and quite grey with an air of Inspector Cluesso........ Peter Sellers about him. He is also reading a (hardback) book
The man beside him is the youngest out of all three......dressed casully......jeans and a tshirt with a slogan 'THE FA CUP final 2011 WEMBLEY' across the front of the tshirt

I've had a frugal day today.......
My breakfast, a cereal bar....... Curtsey of Transport for London (our good friend Boris Johnson)
Lunch, a local eatery near Embankment station ........ Curtsey of my number two off spring

19:10......caught by the skin of my teeth!
Run all the way from Kings Cross underground station to platform zero for the seven ten........and here I am out of breath, but happily seated on one if FURST Capital Connect's raggerty trains
Why so late?
I did a detour to Marble Arch..........
A confession is in order.....
Forgive me my fellow 'I'm too posh to shop in Primark!' (or primarK! Or primarny!)
I went to buy my supplies of glass tights and couple of light cardigans for the warmer days
So here I am, paying for my sins

Piccaddily line train is packed! Standing room only
I look around me and notice that commuters are dressed in summer gear, winter gear, some are even wearing coats, scarfs and hats!
Mad dogs and Englishmen eh!

They're giving out free cereal 'Plus' bars at Kings Cross concourse......... That's breakfast sorted!

Other commuters on the train are either reading newspapers or sleeping
I'm gong to join the latter
Sssssnnnooozzz!

I'm sat next to a bespectacled, lanky, casually dressed middle-aged man reading an instruction book of some sort........ A Canon gadget instruction book
Laid on the table in front of him are his; iPhone, spectacle case and a personal music gadget (I don't recognise the make) to which an earplug extends from gadget to his ears
He takes off his spectacles and proceeds to packing away the instruction book and now sits with his eyes closed and arms folder, listening quietly to music

08:25......... The train finally arrives, stopping a few yards away from me, opening its doors letting us in two by two
Left! Left! Left!
Actually, forget that! This is the first carriage and I have no alternative but to head to my left..........unless I'm heading for the first class carriage........ I don't think so!

I notice my female neighbour has a bump......... I haven't caught the eight twenty for a while and she certainly wasn't pregnant or a least didn't look pregnant the last time I saw her

As I enter St Neots' station hub I gazed at the time...........one minute pass eight, that's nineteen minutes before my train's arrival
Once again I am the first one at the platform's edge........on my lonesome for approximately ten minutes before being joined by a familiar St Neotsian
We acknowledge each others presence by a smile and stood side by side in silence both tapping away on our mobile
"Blah! Blah! Blah! .........delay to the eight twenty train to Kings Cross due to Blah! Blah! Blah!"
Here we gooooooo!
There are six male St Neotsians behind us now........ The silence is interrupted by a cough, then another.

07:30........ Mentally waved goodbye to home as I gently close the door behind me
Mother Nature is playing it cool this morning as I felt her breeze embrace my cheeks. I begin my two mile leisurely walk to St Neots' station, passing the usual suspects on my journey........all of four, maybe five people

After a traumatic ride down to the platfor
I boarded the first train that arrived but got on another carriage away from little Miss Selfish-Blearer

Standing in the crowded lift at Covent Garden and being almost deafened by young woman personal (chuckle) iPod BLEARING!
I couldn't hear myself think......... Sorry what was I saying?
Train of thought has been lost
In my world
"Shut the f*** up! You inconsiderate b****!
followed by a slap or two

On the Piccaddily line to "Heathrow terminals one, two, three and five blah! blah! blah!"
Russell Square...... Standing room only for all
Next is Holborn where one can "change for the Central line"
The next station is where I get off, Covent Garden

Platform seven........ And we're on time!

I was a stranger to my home weekend just gone
Why?
Saturday, a long drive to visit a fragile parent returning home in the early hours of Sunday morning
Sunday, after getting a text from a sibling's husband........ another long drive to London Royal Docks area for a surprise birthday dinner at a Thai restaurant;
The Nakhon Thai
Royal Docks
Waterfront studios, 1 dock road London E16 1AH
Had a wonderful family gathering......followered by a long drive home
Hence the shouting match with the alarm this morning
I guess my stamina has waned........ No longer a young person eh!

We have now reached Stevenage; commuters on but none off
Some are lucky to be seated whilst for some.........it's standing room only

08:20.......... The train slowing stops at my feet and like an obedient husband (did I hear a chuckle?) it opens it's doors and welcomes us St Neotsians unto its warm embrace
There are no train buddies this morning, not even our prodigal train buddy
I am sat next to a rather chunky middle-aged man, with peppered short hair, reading glasses on top of his head
He holds a Blackberry mobile phone in his right had and squints intensity at its face.........sometimes drawing it closer to his face and sometimes pulling it away, all the while, his chunky fingers are tap tap taping away

08:06.......... At St Neots station hub and through the open barrier
A note to myself to get ANOTHER RENEWAL SEASON TICKET!
There's a queue this morning so I MUST do it this evening
First Capital Connect has been a thorn in my backside since last week
Why?
Three times I had to queue to get a renewal because........for some reason, my ticket has a London phobia......... It just refuses to work on Transport for London barriers
Forever yelling at me to 'Seek assistance'

06:00......... Brrrrrrr!
Alarm goes off and instead of getting up I screamed at the alarm
"Noooooo!"
I gave it a slap to stop stifle it's scream and yelled
"Just another half hour PLEASE!"
It gave an annoying yelp and fell silent
So here I am going for an extra half hour snooze, finally raising from my comfortable slumber
After showering, brushing my teeth, power dressing, makeup, hair and perfumery I ventured out of my home at seven thirty seven

My plan to get the eighteen ten was scurpped when, after waiting a good ten minutes, I saw 'Delayed.....due to no driver available'
WHAT THE F*** DOES THAT MEAN???
First Capital Connect...... In your f****** dictionary, please explain!

A young woman's slight misfortune on the Piccadilly line from Covent Garden station was  good luck for me
Why?
Picture this..........
at the last couple of steps towards the platform, the noise that the train doors were closing was heard
I and some other commuters decided to try our luck to board; some got on, some didn't 
I was one of the latter........no wait a minute!
The young woman in front of me had managed to get her bag jammed between the now closed door
Try as they could others trying to help the door wouldn't open
Then........
All doors opened and I jumped into the slightly opened mouth of the train
So.......
here I am on the Piccadilly line train to Kings Cross

Nooooooo!
The train has come to a halt just a few yards from Kings Cross
Phew! It's on the move again!
Platform ten

Potter's Bar station crept up and silently moved out of the platform's edge
Finsbury Park is our next stop then Kings Cross..... So I should make it to the office just after one
Lunch for me will consist of nuts from the nearby Holland and Barrett at Covent Garden

Hatfield station.....more passengers
A young woman has joined us. She is wearing a black skirt suit, black shirt, black flat pumps and black sheer tights.....'lady in black' comes to mind then I realised she and I were almost kindred souls in attire
I too wore a black skirt suit, black pumps, black glossy tights
But unlike my new-found soul sister, I am wearing a White T-shirt (due to itchy rash)

Stevenage station has passed, with a handful of travellers embarking......then Welwyn Garden City where I'm joined by a bespectacled tall man in a tan leather jacket, jeans and ORANGE trainers ( I guess he's been TANGO'D!)
On his lap is a bright yellow rucksack - he certainly wants to be seen

I used St Neots' car park and because u didn't have any change I called to pay by card
WHAT A PALAVER!
There were no human touch to the call, just......
"Car registration number"
"Make/model of car"
"Colour"
"code for station'
Then your card details AND charging more for doing it by phone!
F******* CHEEKY MARE!
So that's my lunch money gone!
I think I'll sell some 'Big Issue' en route home tonight eh!

11:41..........sat on the raggerty First Capital Connect slow train to Kings Cross
First stop is Sandy
Why so late travelling into London?
After nearly itching myself to death last night, I had no choice but to call the emergency doctor this morning......
Biggleswade station
Where was I?.......
Inside of my right arm.......ugly looking rashes!
Between my inside thighs....... Rashes!
Back of my neck.......rashes!
Under my left armpit......rashes!
Chest......rashes!
Stomach.....rashes!
Sides and back.......yep! I think you've got the gest
Funnily enough...... Not one rash in my face
Just pulled out of Arlesey station, next stop is Hitchin

So off I went down the escalators to board the Piccadilly line train to Covent Garden
On reaching the barrier at Covent Garden I hold my breathe as I feed my ticket into the mouth of the barrier and............
'I don't f****** believe it!
Talk about 'Groundhog Day!"
I'm sorry to bother you....... My ticket's not workin"
"You'll need to get another one"
And once again I proceed to tell him......
"Only got it reissued this morning and it's not working already"
No smile this time as he let's me through with a blank expression on his face

"Well have a good day"
"You too"
The two namesakes are soon parted
"See you tomorrow"
I make my way towards the barrier and guess what?
The f****** newly issued season ticket......all of an hour old was not f****** working!
'Seek Assistance' screams at me
So 'seek assistance' I did
"I'm sorry to bother you....... My ticket's not workin"
"No worries"
And I proceed to tell him......
"Only got it reissued this morning and it's not working already"
He smiles as he let's me through and the expression on his face made me think that he didn't give damn!

There are only two buddies this morning....... Just me and my namesake and on entering the train.......only one male train buddy
We talk about holidays, we talk about the property market and before long we had reached our destination, Kings Cross

07:05........queuing up to sort out ANOTHER travel card REPLACEMENT!
"Good morning...... Can I help you?"
"Good morning....... Yes, my cards playing up (AGAIN!)
I'm sorry to bother you"
"Don't worry, you're not the only one. There's been around twenty others in a month"
"So...... What's causing this to happen?"
"A number of things...... Mobile phones, perfume, make-up, wires in bras......."
"So not much hope for us girls then?"
We both laughed as he passed me my new ticket
"Bye now"
Bye"

06:36......... Breathe in, breathe out and off I go into the beautiful sunkist town of St Neots
My walk to the station was a little better than yesterday

05:30....... Enough already! I mentally screamed and up I got, half an hour before the alarm
Did the morning ritual.......
Blah! Blah! Blah!.......teeth!
Blah! Blah! Blah!.......shower!
Blah! Blah! Blah!.......towel dried!
Blah! Blah! Blah!.......deodorant!
Blah! Blah! Blah!.......lighter grey trouser suit on!
Blah! Blah! Blah!.......make-up!
Blah! Blah! Blah!.......hair!
Blah! Blah! Blah!.......teeth!
Blah! Blah! Blah!.......Cerruti 1881!

03:15......... Woke up, checked the time and laid my head on the pillow but try as I might, I couldn't get back to noddy land
U blame it on my recent return from Bangkok and the time difference!

So it's another late night but I wouldn't change tonight's detour for the world..........
Ssssssnnoozzzzz!

21:50.........
I am sat on the seven minutes past ten train from Kings Cross at platform seven
I rummaged through my handbag in search of my reading glasses, put them on and started looking at the creased up train timetable in my hand
"Seven minutes past ten" I muttered under my breathe, followered by.....
"Gets to St Neots at ten forty four" then......
"Hello, I'd like to book a taxi"
When for?"
"Ten fortyfour........I'm on the seven minutes pass ten train which wiul get to St Neots at ten fortyfour"
"Ok.....a taxi will be waiting for you"
"Thank you"

17:15........ Thank God I got through the first day at the office still suffering from jet lag
Tomorrow should fare better (I hope!)
I walked through Covent Garden straight to the station
Did I mention that my SECOND renewal season ticket wasn't working this morning?
And it's not working AGAIN!
Having got on the Piccadilly line I hopped off at Holbon station, up the escalators towards Central line...........a detour to my new working routine
Today I am going to Newbury Park
I am now sat on the central line underground tube to Hainault via Newbury Park.......next sation is Redbridge so that's Gants Hill then Newbury Park where I get off

07:11........
"Good morning" I greeted my namesake train buddy at the car park
"Good morning to you too....... How was your holiday?" she asked
We walk together into the station hub, through the open barriers, up the steps, across the bridge, down the steps....... all the while talking about my holiday to Bangkok, Thailand
On reaching platform four we sport only one train buddy, my adopted daughter
"Good morning"
"Good morning"
We talk until the train arrives

"Good morning" smiled a female dog walker
"Good morning" I replied and recipricated a smile
A few minutes later
"Good morning"
This time an elderly man greeted me
"Good morning"
I'm being injected with a sense of belonging
"Good morning" I replied
The sombre walk is now a tad less sombre
"Good morning" greeted another elderly gentleman
"Good morning"
Just imagine that........the only three walkers seen on my journey to the station all greeted me

05:31........... Woke up to the chirping sound of the local birds
So you can say that my body clock is basically up the creek!
I got up laid my striped skirt suit on the bed and slaunterd to the bathroom, brush my teeth and showered
06:40........ Slammed the door behind me and begun a sombre march to St Neots station

And in between these films, lunch was served again!
Again? I hear you ask
Yes AGAIN!
Lunch number one was soon after leaving Bangkok
Lunch number two was soon after entering a different time zone
So.................. I'm all 'lunched' out!

Watched Beyonce on tour....... Superb!
A film with Gwyneth Paltrow 
Then 'No strings attached with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutchner
Then 'Dilemma' with Vince Vaughan, Winona Ryder
Then 'The Green Hornest' 

A mental note to myself......... Must use Thai airline again
Why?
It's VERY ROOMY!

Once again.......
"Seafood for Mrs Lee" said the Thai air host(ess)
But he was directing it to the young woman 
I said nothing 
"I think it's for you" she said to me
"We swap seat" she said to the Thai air host(ess)
"Seafood madam?"
"Yes please"
"There you go madam"
"Thank you"
I had for starters; 
Salmon on a bed of salad
Mains;
Mixed seafood consisting of prawns, fish and squid with vegetables and purple pasta of some sort
Dessert;
Purple blamanche.......washed down with white wine followed by coffee

But not for long!
A young English couple were walking towards me and by the look on their faces I was going to be seated between them
"Should we swop seats?" I asked
"If you don't mind?"
And before THEY could choose I chirped
"I don't mind taking the aisle if YOU don't mind!"
"That's fine........thank you!
After a couple of seconds of shuffling we sat down
"Is this your first trip?" I asked,
Small talk is so civilised!
"No......... said the twentysomething woman
.......... I was here in two thousand and one" she continued
"You?"
"It's my third time"
"we were island hopping, swimming and diving"
She mentioned the islands......... they were not familiar to me
Where did you stay this time?"
" In Bangkok"
"My husband and I did the island hopping ourselves eighteen months ago........
"Where to?" she interrupted
"Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi,....to name a few. We also stayed in Ao Nang"
We continued with the small talk; myself and the young couple. They seemed pleasant enough. The important thing was........... They knew when to stop!

The inevitable has happened....... the Thai dream has ended
After a sad farewell at Savunbhumviu airport I enter the departure lounge and wait for my cue to board the plane
I am sat at row forty six, seat E....... the middle aisle.......doh!

Our host, our friend, my namesake..... took us out for what was to be my last (supper) lunch
He ordered an array of uncooked meat and we bbq'ed them on our table.
Sounds weird eh?
In the middle of our table was a mini grill with charcoal and fire screaming out at us. We begin to lay the beef, pork, lamb and chicken on the grill as we were waited on

“Khob Khun Krap”  Said my namesake

“Khob Khun Krap” Replied DOS man

“Khob Khun Kha” I replied

We then got lost in conversation until our bellies were full

Today I'm feeling much better with a twinge of sadness
Why?
It's my last full day for tomorrow, tomorrow, I go back to my real world
Back to home life
Back to work life
Back to travelling to and fro and the train and underground tube.........fro and to.......to and fro (I think you get the gest!)
Oh God! I'm already mentally exhausted!
I'm thinking of my next holiday!

Did I catch the M-I-G-R-A-I-N-E in time?
YES and NO!
I was incapacitated for the rest of the night but it would have been worse if I hadn't got it when I did. So needless-to-say it could have lasted a couple of days instead of a day
And the after effect.......
The after effect feels like having just had one round in the boxing ring with Mike Tyson!
So you see........ I had one day of M-I-G-R-A-I-N-E followed by a morning H-E-A-D-A-C-H-E
This morning I made sure to take one ibroprofen and another day had begun

Last night's plan to go to the Imax was scuppered by an enemy of mine

Who? 

What?

M-I-G-R-A-I-N-E!

Just before it arrived we had just left the Japanese restaurant after having an assortment of delicious Japanese dishes and had made our way to the office. I was introduced to another teacher when....................

Tunnel vision........... F*** Nooooo!

Spots in my frontal vision......... F*** Nooooo!

"Sweetheart, do you have any ibropofen on you?"

"NO........but there's a Boots pharmacy one floor down"

So after the rush downstairs and up again............

"There you go, sweetie" DOS man said, handing me a glass of water and one ibroprofen

"Thank you, sweetheart" I said as I stretched out my hand. Glass in one hand and the ibroprofen in the other, I tipped my head slightly back, gently laid the tablet on my tongue, gulped a mouthful of water and swallowed

DOS man lead me to a darken room and left me there until I was just well enough to travel back to our hotel room

 

I woke up  to another bright and breezy morning. After showering, I put on my grey linen trousers and my white bow fronted sleeveless shirt and breakfasted on the balcony of our apartment.......... breakfast consisted of; fresh watermelon, pineapple and a Thai fruit that looks like granny apple but tasted like something I’ve had before......... I just can’t put my finger on its name!

I’m waiting for my lunch date.........DOS man!

It's now half past one in the afternoon.......... half past seven in the morning back home, where friends, family and foes are just beginning their working day 

Today I will be meeting my male namesake at his English Language school..........I am looking forward to seeing him and his partner  

DOS man arrived at the hotel for our lunch time date.

"Ready for lunch sweetheart"

"I'm famished”

So off we went, hand in hand, downstairs to the hotel restaurant where we were guided to our seats

“Sawadee Kha” said the waitress

“Sawadee Kha” I replied as she sat me down

“Khob Khun Kha” I said as I sat down moving the chair nearer to the table

“Sawadee Krap” said the waitress to DOS man

“Sawadee Kha” replied DOS man as he made himself comfortable

We were handed both the drink meal menu

“Khob Khun Kha” 

“Khob Khun Krap”

Did you notice how ‘Kha’ and ‘Krap’ are always added to a dialogue? Well it really depends what sex is the person being addressed and the sex of the addressee..........

Kha is attached to the end of a dialogue directed to a woman and Krap is directed to men (as a politeness gesture)

“Song ice lemon tea kha” DOS man ordered two ice lemon tea

DOS man ordered spicy seafood salad and I ordered fried rice ‘Tom Yam’ with lemon grass and prawn

Last night we strolled to the nearby cinema and queued in a long line with the natives of Bangkok......there are not many tourists around......... in fact there are not many in the area we were living

The films were being shown in Thai and English

"Two tickets for 'Drive Angry' please"

A nod and a smile

"Cam po ca" we said in unison, putting both hands in front of us (like in praying) and nodding

"Cam po ca" replied the young Thai man behind the shielded reception desk

We bought a large mixed popcorn (sour cream and caremal........ wierd combonation eh?), drinks etc....... then made our way up the escalator to our designated seat. After watching the trailers, pictures of the Thai king, his wife and children were plastered on the screen and everyone in the cinema stood up to attention and in silence stared at the screen. We stood through shots of the king as a baby, as a boy, as a young man, as a married man with his young wife and with each of his children (I was told that this rtiual is the norm)

We settled into our reclining seats and watched 'Drive Angry' whose main character is Nicholas Cage 

Having a Thai host is an added bonus........ I found out during our course of conversation that my namesake used to be a monk and that his brother is a monk. Getting an insight of a monk's life was so enlightening, simply an eye-opener.......but a monk's life is just not for everyone!

This time however, I am visiting Thailand through the eye of a Thai, in short, I am a Thai, doing what Thai's do best

The fiery but fragrant dishes are renowned all over Thailand and I had my share of a variety of dishes; tom yam prawn soup with noodles, tom kha khai (which is a creamy coconut chicken soup), tom yam kung (another prawn soup without coconut milk), washed down with either ice lemon tea or green tea  

This is my third trip to Thailand, the first whilst on a cruise to Singapore, Malyasia and Thailand approximately seven years ago, the second being two years ago with the whole family (to China Town in Bangkok for a few days before flying to Ao Nang then island hopping). Both times were truly amazing holidays, doing the tourist tours et al

Anyway.................

Where was I?

We checked out of the hotel at nine thirty or thereabout, stopping at the floating market, which, unfortunately only opens at night (very disappointed to say the least!) before stopping to have lunch at a nearby floating restaurant 

Monday 2 May was also a holiday here......Labour Day (back home it's Bank Holiday)

So.........

Our host, my namesake and his partner picked us up very early and drove us approximately two hours to Hua Hin where we planned to stay overnight at. 

We chatted, we listened to music, we stopped to refuel both the car and our stomachs, stopping to walk through an historical market 

On reaching the hotel, I automatically switched on the television........surfing for an English speaking news channel (something I always do) and........

"Blah! Blah! Blah!......Osama Bin Laden is dead!"

I rushed out to join the others

"Osama Bin Laden is dead!"

"What?"

"Osama Bin Laden is dead!" I repeated

"How? When?" asked DOS man

"That's all I saw.......I don"t know if he was killed or what?"

So as you can guess, the subject that dominated our conversation through our evening meal was.........the capture, killing of the 'most wanted man' in the US

There are two questions on my mind..........

Is this the real reason the Obama's weren't 'invited' to THE wedding? 

Is this the real reason why the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, like most newly weds, didn't go directly on their honeymoon?

What do I know??????

I'm just ordinary 'Joe Blogg!'

  

We then took another boat ride to the other side of the river - to Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)........I later found out that the museum was named after Aruna, the Indian god of dawn. Another photo-shot experience once again

The grassy monastery....    snap!

The sight of monks, old and young with their shaved heads bobbing above their bright orange robes........snap! 

Then we made our way back taking the river boat and rail train in reverse order.........home

It was dark by now and our stomachs were singing......rumbling! We decided to go to a local restaurant and ordered Thai prawn chilly soup

My second day........DOS man and I took a train ride followed by a river boat ride to Ko Rattanakosin (Royal Island). We walked through the road market taking in the wares on offer.........

Guess what was already on sale? 

Pictures, postcards et al of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the  new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge..........Technology eh!

After trawling the market and restraining from buying anything, we made our way to Wat Pho Buddhist temple. I had read a little bit about the museum; it"s the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok and (the real reason of our visit) has the longest reclining Buddha in Thailand - the statue measures at 46m (151 ft) long and 15m (49 ft) high. It was breathtaking! 

I'm not sure what it's made of inside but outside, outside it's made of gold leaf with Mother-of-pearl inlays on the feet  displaying the one hundred and eight different auspicious characteristics of a Buddha

And like a tourist, I did the tourist thing (photographed myself silly!)

Reclining Buddha.........snap!

Statues of little Buddhas.....snap!

Outside the galleries...........snap!

Inside the galleries...........snap!

I've had an hectic four days since my arrival in Bangkok, Thailand.. ............

On my first day in Bangkok, DOS man introduced me to a Thai business man (my namesake),  a good friend of DOS man who took us out for a meal as a traditional 'welcome to Bangkok' 

We soon got talking and before long, got to know a little of each other and I felt at ease. His spoken English was much more clearer than my spoken Thai!

After what was a delicious meal, I was taken to his school 

My namesake owned an English Language School nearby and I had the pleasure of being shown round and introduced to both teachers and staff alike.