Bob goes north

Today, Bob decided to try out the British transport system. From Canary Wharf to Paddington and then north to the Cotswolds. He was meeting with a chap who has some interesting software.

The trains and ticketing were fine and then he found himself in the sleepy little village of Kingham.

He had been assured he’d find a taxi at the station. There was nothing at the station. Actually, ‘station’ is exaggerating. Mirinda thought it sounded like one of those places where you have to flag the train down if you want to catch it and it barely slows down if you want to hop off.

A local, as sleepy as the village, told Bob that the phone number for the local taxi firm was in the ticket office. Bob had already established that the ticket office was closed so he thanked the local who wandered off to where ever sleepy locals go.

A little way from the station, Bob noticed a bus, complete with driver. He figured he’d ask him if he knew where the place was he was trying to get to.

After reading the address on the piece of paper that Bob showed him, the driver scratched his head, took the piece of straw from his mouth and slowly articulated that the address didn’t have a street on it. Of course, Bob knew this.

Eventually, the driver suggested he take Bob to the nearby metropolis of Chipping Norton where he may find someone who knew where the place was and/or a taxi. Bob jumped onto the bus and they took off.

Arriving at tiny Chipping Norton, the bus driver pulled over in front of an antique store and suggested that Bob go in and ask them if they knew where the place was. Bob thanked him and left the bus.

The woman in the shop was quite helpful. She told him it was about a 25 minute walk. She also told him the name of the street it was on. When Bob asked her if there was a local taxi firm, she replied that they had a couple of taxis in the town.

Leaving the shop, Bob realised the bus was still there, the driver having waited for him. He thought it only right that he should tell the driver of his success. When he told him the street name, the driver suggested he hop back on the bus and he’d drive him there.

So, without further ado, the bus trundled down some country lanes, eventually dropping Bob off at the entrance to an industrial estate. The driver explained he couldn’t go any further but that the place he wanted was about 200 metres ahead. He left Bob and, presumably, returned to his regular route.

(I have to admit that I really wanted there to be other passengers on the bus, accompanying Bob on this impromptu journey but, sadly, there wasn’t. Visions of a bus load of locals assisting in the navigation and discovery of the trading estate were flashing across my mind until Bob explained it was just him and the driver. Even so…this is very generous but highly unusual behaviour.)

So, Bob found the place and had a productive few hours discussing the software he’d gone so far to see. When it was time to leave, he asked one of the guys for the number of the local taxi firm. The guy shushed such a suggestion aside and offered to drive him to the station. Even so, this was not without mishap as the guy managed to miss the turn to the station, extending the trip by 20 minutes.

Bob managed to get back to his hotel with barely enough time to leave again in order to meet Mirinda. We then walked him over to the Lotus for a date night special, best-Chinese-food-in-London, meal.

And, it would appear, that we have now become regulars. The head waiter treated us like family, even throwing in a complimentary starter of deep fried chicken bits.

Earlier in the day (and quite a few miles away) I sanded back the chest of drawers before slapping some primer on it. The painting bit was okay but I did the sanding in the small hallway at the top of the stairs, making it easier to clean up afterwards. This confused the dogs somewhat. While Day-z wandered up and down most of the time, Carmen stood watching me from the foot of space left at the top of the stairs. She managed to get covered in sawdust. Stupid dog.

Anyway, this is how I left the chest of drawers.

Sanded and primed

I added the raspberry paint when I returned after dinner. The dogs thought it a bit weird that I made a cup of tea then went into the Old Rose Room to paint at midnight. Hopefully it’ll be finished tomorrow.

And, before anyone asks…I’m NOT painting the inside.