The journey begins. Coffee in hand (coconut latte from the local independent), heading off to Victoria station on an unusually sunny October Saturday morning. Lots of families with young children on the Victoria Line, probably looking for a green patch in… Green Park?
Arriving at Victoria Station was an easy affair. As I came
out of the tube, the smell of bacon butties and pastries engulfed me, but alas,
my priority was getting the ticket first. Coffee still in hand, I fumbled
around with my purse, finally managing to dig out the email with the booking
number.
There was no queue at the self-service machine,
but a massive queue of people with trolleys at the standard (traditional)
ticket desks. Side stepping that, still fumbling in my bag, careful not to
spill any coffee on myself, I made my way to a self-service ticket machine to
be greeted by a message saying “please choose railcard type”. No
railcard type here, so I pressed to start again and choose my prepaid
tickets.
I was a bit disconcerted by a message
“please enter the card you used to pay for the ticket”. I did not
have that card so I restarted my journey, thinking I might have missed
something. A second attempt and I entered a card, not THE card, praying it
would work. It did! They finally asked for my booking number and the tickets
were swiftly printed. As soon as that was done I could hear the PA: “the 10:25 train to Horsham is departing
from platform 11. First stop Clapham Junction”. Knowing I had to stop at
Clapham Junction and change for the South Western Railway to Winchester I
hurried. With only 5 min to spare I made my way to the platform and onto the
train. It was the Southern line. Fairly clean and not too packed. Wi-Fi picked
up almost immediately and good connection too. Across the aisle, a French
group were chattering deliciously about food, whilst eating bread rolls. My
stomach grumbled as I realised I had skipped breakfast again.
At Clapham junction I was met with a bit of a
difficulty, which was promptly solved by good old Google who knows exactly what
platform the train to Winchester was leaving for. Platform 9 (unfortunately not
9 and 3/4). And I have 10 min to spare. What Clapham junction lacks in terms of
notice boards (either that or I didn’t look hard enough) makes up for in bagels
and pasties. However, I had little time to deliberate and I chose a massive
salted pretzel, which made me very thirsty indeed.
The train arrives with a gentle puff and the red
upholstery of the seats which can be seen from outside gives it a posh
appearance indeed.
As I take my seat (unallocated seating) I notice
there are no charging sockets on this train. The trays are a bit small so I can
only place my laptop on them. The coffee cup will have to sit on the tray
belonging to the seat next to me. The Wi-Fi is a bit slow but at least it’s
there. It’s taking me to the South Western Railway website which is a very
colourful and animated experience.
I discover with a twang of disappointment that this seat makes it rather hard to do any work on it. The trays are definitely not designed for any laptops or work to be done on them, as the laptop keeps sliding off. But I don’t like to complain too much. The train carriage is very quiet and pleasant. A young lady is enjoying her yoghurt granola breakfast across the aisle, while on the seat behind her, a man in his 60s is doing the crossword puzzle. There’s no chatting among friends (yet) as this carriage is mostly filled with lone travellers. So far. This works for me as I managed to fill the empty seat next to me with my belongings.
the Wi-Fi isn’t strong enough for me to upload my lovely pictures onto captureme, but I will make another attempt shortly. As we arrive in Farnborough, attempt at decency prompts me to clear the empty seat next to me.
The train carriage is a bit livelier now, with 3 blokes having some breakfast beer (Kronenbourg) a few seats in front of me. Place has got a bit chattier but around me, the same quiet people are reading the paper and doing the crossword puzzle. we’ve left Fleet and are approaching Basingstoke. Outside my window things are getting greener by the minute. This pleases me. I spy some beautiful cows basking in the sunshine and I smile. It’s the little things.
A lady with a food cart came by at Basingstoke. Alas, my coffee had finished and snobbery didn’t allow me to follow it up with the instant coffee served on the train. I was also disappointed they didn’t have Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans. After Basingstoke, the next stop Winchester. This has been a short and pleasurable train journey. the end destination is Poole and I am half tempted to stay on and visit this city. my eyes had lingered on the name on the map a couple of times. it will have to wait till next time though.
Winchester, we have arrived. Papier mâché pumpkins greet me from a window with a smile. The journey took 2 min less than expected. The 11:49 train to Poole arrived at 11:47. Winchester is sunny and friendly and I’m looking forward to vising the City Mill and the cathedral.