Taking Polly Home

Tanker Passing the Belfast Ferry, Opposite the Pier Head

Today I drove back to Marsden to take my wife home. Because I wanted to get the train back, we left early. The drive back was uneventful. I managed to catch the 11 o’clock bus to Huddersfield to catch the train.

Late Trains

I bought my ticket and then had a choice. Catch the delayed 11:48, currently almost fifteen minutes late. Or have a pint in the King’s Head and catch the 12:20. I didn’t choose wisely; I went for the delayed 11:48. It got later and later, eventually arriving at 12:20.

At Manchester Victoria, we were told there was a problem with the train; we all had to get off and catch the next one, which was now the delayed 12:20 from Huddersfield. This took over ten minutes; the train was full. The platform was crowded; I thought there was no chance of a seat. Luckily, the following train was almost empty.

At Huddersfield, we were told the train was late because of a signalling failure and a broken-down train in front. At Manchester, it was bust. Naughty gnome points for the inconsistencies.

I should have caught the delayed 12:20. I’d have arrived in Liverpool at the same time on the same train, and could have had a pint or two in the King’s Head.

I arrived an hour late.

Ship and Mitre

The plan was to meet John at the Vernon Arms. Moving on to the Ship and Mitre after a few pints, so I could have something to eat. On the train, lots of messages passed between us as I got more and more delayed. Eventually we decided to meet at the Ship and Mitre.

When I left Liverpool, the weather wasn’t too bad; I wore my thick fleece with a T-shirt. When I got back to Liverpool, it was cold and windy; I should have worn my waxed jacket with a T-shirt and a sweatshirt. The first of the two storms due to hit Liverpool had arrived. Luckily, I bought my waxed jacket; the following days were very stormy.

I still like the Ship, but it is no longer a contender for one of my desert island pubs.

The last few times I’ve been here (yesterday, today, August and April), they’ve been selling Osset Beers, especially Shite Rat. Today, there were three on hand pump. The two non-Osset beers, under 4%, were cloudy and not to my taste (same as yesterday). Yesterday I drank an excellent porter (4.4%). Today, it had changed to another dark beer, well over 6% strong. Far too strong for me.

No suitable real ales, so I drank some German Hefeweisse, at 6% (yes, I know). It’s a beer I need to drink slowly, so I only had four. I might have had six pints of English Ale, so it worked out OK in the end.

For food, I had a plate of loaded chips for just under £8. Loaded with a spag-bol type sauce.

Eventually I caught the bus back to Alison’s for the dreaded quizzes.