The Long Way Home

Yesterday (22nd Nov 2017) I'd arranged to travel to Wolverhampton from Grange-over-Sands to meet my elderly mum for lunch.  I'd bought advance tickets and although it was raining when I left home the journey down was uneventful.  The journey back, however, was a catalogue of misinformation, a battle against the elements and really bad timing - but I did meet some lovely people.

• My 15:37 from Wolverhampton was running late, we were further delayed getting into Lancaster meaning I missed the 17:20 to Grange, which apparently left on time. (This turned out to be a lie anyway, it had actually been cancelled).
• As the Virgin train I'd just got off pulled away the station announcer informed us that the line between Preston and Lancaster was now closed due to flooding.  If I'd known that 2 minutes earlier I could have stayed on the Virgin train to Oxenholme and got Steve to pick me up from there.  Still...
• As no trains were running I headed for Lancaster bus station where I got myself onto a very late and diverted, but still running, 555 to Kendal (the driver of which was an absolute STAR - cheerful and helpful in the middle of what must have been a dreadful shift, top marks to Stagecoach)
• I was trying to keep up to date with things on Twitter and, as we passed through Carnforth I saw this Tweet from Northern Rail
  
  
  
• Mindful of the advice that no one should be driving unless absolutely necessary I jumped off the bus and headed to Carnforth station to save Steve having to drive to Kendal (I can walk home from Grange station) - there was a train showing on the Network Rail app as running 32 minutes late so I figured I'd get that.
• It turns out Northern Rail were somehow misinformed (lying is a strong word and I can't imagine they'd deliberately put out false information so let's stick with "misinformed").  Later on I did try to tell them:

• I joined 3 other people waiting on Carnforth station - plus 5 teenagers at the far end of the platform having some sort of party, 
• Fifteen minutes later we were joined by an elderly gentleman who'd just caught a taxi from Preston to Carnforth.
• Between us we were trying to get to Silverdale (1), Grange (1), Ulverston (1) and Barrow (2)
• Regular recorded announcements were coming through but the information was out of date - they were still telling us that the 17:48 for Barrow was delayed.
• Around half an hour later a lady appeared on another platform telling us the underpass was flooded, we went to explore.  The two photos below were taken just 4 minutes apart.

Notice the dry area in the centre

Dry area now gone

• Two of the teens paddled through, the other 3 refused to.  I was happy to paddle, as was 1 other guy in our group, but two others & the elderly gent weren't.  By now we were a team and needed to resolve this.
• Station announcement tells us all trains are now cancelled but a bus replacement service will be running - fine, but we can't get off the station to get to the busses.
• No answers to any calls to any organisation who can help or inform us - all of us bar the elderly gent (who didn't have a phone) were trying. We even tried the emergency contact button on the platform.  Nothing.  (I did notice that Northern Rail were now Tweeting about Manchester Christmas markets though, which I thought was nice...)
• One of our group identified that we could walk to the end of the platform and cross the tracks the the next platform - I appreciate this is probably illegal but we were stranded, there was no information or support coming from anywhere, we'd been told the trains were all cancelled anyway and we had a clear view along the tracks.  Plus this counted as an emergency so we figured we'd be OK (for those who know Carnforth station can I just point out that we only crossed to the central platform with the refreshment rooms and the path out at the far end, we did NOT attempt to cross the West Coast mainline).  These folks, who arrived several hours later, got stuck in and good to see the water level had dropped a little.

From @Bloo_bel Twitter feed

• Information on the replacement busses was sketchy at best. One source was insisting they were running, another was saying the bus company had refused to send their drivers out in the weather conditions (and who can blame them?)
• The local cab companies said they weren't working but the elderly gent flagged one down and persuaded the driver to take him to Silverdale.  (The teenagers had vanished as soon as we'd left the station)
• The remaining four of us, now a soggy but fairly merry little band, decided to abandon Northern Rail and head for the pub/ hotel over the road where I called Steve to come and collect us.  I offered the others a lift to Grange.
• As the others, who by now had names: Emma, Laura and Torquil, tried to make contact with their families we realised that they couldn't get lifts from Grange as Newby Bridge was flooded.  They booked the final 3 rooms in the hotel while I nursed my G&T, confident that Steve in our 4x4 would make it through.  The coaster on the table made me laugh though...

• Steve arrived to collect me, I bid farewell to my new found friends, and we finally headed home, getting in at 21:45 - 6 hours after I'd left Wolverhampton.
• The roads were shocking but folks still whizzed past us on the M6 as if nothing was amiss.

It wasn't the worst journey in the world, and I made some new friends along the way, but surely these days we could have been kept better informed?  At that time of night Carnforth is an unmanned station and there was absolutely no consistent or reliable information available to us from anywhere.  We're told CCTV is constantly watching us and yet no-one can tell us what's happening.  

I know I regularly bang on about Northern Rail but their misinformation earlier in the evening triggered a series of events for me which could have been avoided - the upshot is that I now absolutely don't trust anything on their Twitter feed, which pretty much undermines the whole point of it. 

Of course the upside is I can now look out for my new found friends on my travels and we can bitch about the service together - so not a complete disaster after all.

IF YOU NEED SOMETHING TO READ ON A LONG TRAIN JOURNEY - our books are packed with fun facts and fab photos - perfect as a pressie or just to treat yourself!  Click HERE to learn more!

Click on the pic to learn more!

I would really love to, but...

You see that photo - the one of the footpath sign with the sun behind it? It's not the greatest photo but for me it means so much.

Six years ago on March 7th 2011 we'd been living in a campervan for 2 1/2 months. We were desperately trying to find a house but, as often happens with these things, it was turning into a catalogue of disasters.

The day before that photo was taken so much had gone wrong that we honestly thought we'd have to give up on our dream and go home. It had been a rough & sleepless night with many tears of frustration. In the morning I was walking to Silverdale station to catch my train to work - the weather was perfect & the views sublime. I was so moved that I took this picture & vowed to fight on, determined that nothing would stop us achieving the things we wanted.

Spool forward 6 years and here we are; one book already published, two more out next month with two different publishers - both of whom have indicated they want to work with us again in the future - and, most importantly, we have a roof over our heads.

Each year this photo pops up and reminds me how desperate we were and how deep we had to dig and each year, wherever my head is, it inspires me to keep fighting.  Especially whenever I catch myself saying "I would really love to, but..."  Dreams don't come true all by themselves, and they certainly don't come true without a little blood, sweat & tears.

Published 3rd April 2017

Published 15th April 2017

Published October 2015

There will never be another today.

Today I'm commuting to Leyland for work. The destination may not be picturesque but the journey is gorgeous - miles of stunning Lancashire countryside streaming past the train windows.

At the table seat in front of me are 4 people clearly not happy with their lot. So far they've collectively ranted for over an hour about their boss and their employer, at times becoming quite personal, and not once did any of them glance out of the window.

What drives me in life?  The knowledge that this is it, this is today, I don't get the chance to do it again tomorrow. How do any of us know this isn't our last today? Rant and rage if you need to but take a breath, look out of the window and take a moment to appreciate today before it turns into just another yesterday.

Another great reason to visit Leighton Moss

As if you needed another great reason to go there!  Today saw the grand opening of the Sky Tower - regular visitors will have noticed its presence over the past few months - it's hard to disguise a 9m tower - but it wasn't until today that we were finally allowed to climb the 48 steps to the top.

The official aims of the tower are twofold - firstly they allow guests to get a raised view of the reedbeds - by looking down from above you get a great picture of where the reedbeds are being renewed and all the various pathways and pools within them.  Secondly, from a conservation point of view, they allow the RSPB to keep a clearer watch on the movement of different species in and out of the area.

Between you and me the third benefit of the tower is the fact that it offers the best mobile phone signal in Silverdale - but don't tell Annabel I mentioned that...

Rather than me wittering on the best way to show you how great the Sky Tower is is by showing you how great the Sky Tower is - definitely worth finding an excuse to nip over there to check it out for yourself.

Clear views of the new reed planting.

Annabel had even organised perfect weather for the day too!

Room for plenty & stopping off platforms on your way up.

It's Leighton Moss - of course there was cake!

30 Days Wild: Day 24 - Pennington Flash

I should probably call the Pennington Flash part 1 because I'm back near here twice next week - but with 200 hectares to go at, including a 70 hectare lake, there's plenty to keep me occupied, plus I only get to explore it in my lunch break so I'll be doing it piecemeal.

Pennington Flash is just to the south west of Leigh and today I visited the eastern edge.  It was a glorious sunny day & it was great to see loads of families out enjoying themselves, feeding the ducks & making the most of the sunshine. 

After a quick stop for my sarnies I headed on a small circular walk which took in a couple of bird hides and a section of the Leeds Liverpool Canal.  I didn't have time to do much birdwatching but I did spot a good number of herons from one hide.

On the flowers front it was daisies all the way both large and small - a flower I've adored since childhood when I apparently shunned my lovely duck rocker and made off with the daisy in its hat instead. I also spied an elderflower in full bloom and an unidentified flower which was clearly a big hit with the bees.

The only problem was I got a wee bit carried away and was nearly late back for my afternoon training session - good job it wasn't time management...

30 Days Wild: Day 23 - Arnside to Grange-over-Sands

OK - I'm cheating today but that's because I'm in the throws of a nasty summer cold and still having to go into work - the joy of freelancing!  (In truth I really have lost my voice & tomorrow's Interview Skills course looks likely to be delivered via the medium of interpretive dance.)

After a long and busy day there's nothing like the final stretch of my journey home to help me reconnect with nature. Morecambe Bay is spectacular - especially on an evening like this. From the train window I usually spot a variety of ducks and waders, little egrets, herons,  bunnies, sheep and, as we arrive into Grange the house martins are zipping by overhead.

So, as I lie here coughing & spluttering,  sit back and enjoy the ride from Arnside to Grange-over-Sands.  :-)

30 Days Wild: Day 10 - My little peace of heaven

My life is usually pretty hectic, racing from one end of the country to the other and being on my feet all day delivering training courses.  Like most folks I need a little down time, somewhere I can relax and unwind and, ideally, enjoy a bit of cake.  Whenever it all gets a bit too much, Leighton Moss is where I head for, the entire reserve is a haven of peace and quiet, but I have my favourite spots - most of which I'll tell you about...

The sensory garden is a fantastic place and greets you as you arrive - in the summer it's alive with bugs and bees and an absolute riot of colour.

Lillian's Hide - the big one everyone heads for and perfect for panoramic views across the reserve.

Next up is Pubic Hide - busy during the day but deserted from around 5pm - great for otter spotting and the occasional bittern...

THIS is my absolutely favourite spot - I love this bench.  I love it so much I'm not even telling you where it is - if you know the reserve well you might know where it is, just promise not to tell anyone else... 

And if you're going to hide away on your favourite bench, you need some fabulous food to nibble on!

Lower Hide - just how I like it.

During the course of a few hours I spotted buzzards, a variety of ducks, little egrets, black headed gulls by the score, marsh harriers, wrens, a tawny owl and some whopping great dragon flies.  Sometimes you don't need to go out there and chase nature, sometimes you can just sit still, enjoy the peace and quiet, and let nature come to you.