What unparalleled joy is the train journey. I suppose in some respects it's better than driving for hours (not that I have a car even if I wanted to) but it's still no fun at all. Five hours of train for a 30 minute meeting in Exeter. Then my plan was to catch a train to Salisbury to see my old chums Dr. Philius Algenon Oswald Welshegg and Ms. Sarah Hermione-Persephony Chuckles. There is always a hearty Tom-Bombadil style welcome there and it's only another two hours on the train from Exeter so it was definitely the thing to do. Unortunately there is a window in the train schedule between 4.00 and 6.00 pm where no trains run to Salisbury and I had to wander around Exeter for two hours looking for something interesting to enteratin me. I popped into Thornton's and bought some cakes and choccies, not a bad way to kill time. One interesting thing did happen while I was wandering around Exeter, some children spat on my head while I was walking under a bridge. What absolute joy - a giant blob of gob in my hair to cheer my day. The little gits had picked the perfect spot too, by the time I'd have got to the top of the bridge in an attempt to strangle them they'd have been long gone. My advice if you have to come to Exeter is bring a hat - or a gun, that would have been much better.

I eventually got to Salisbury at 8.20. It was dark, I was hungry and in need of booze - my chums would not disappoint.

Once again Phil had come up to expectations. I like visiting people who make a little effort to entertain. A fine glass or two of wine and a three course nosh up to boot, that's my style. Phil had thought hard to come up with an interesting dinner and a fine goat's cheese starter followed by some flakey cod, disguised as a chicken with leeks for legs and little potatoes pretending to be eggs around the side, all sitting on a bed of spinach then cake and ice cream. Fantastic.

I think I might head down this way more often. It's a long journey but well worth the effort and boredom of the British train system. And thankfully in Salisbury nobody waits on bridges with drool hanging from their inbred mouths.


Cake Blog

Thornton's Hazelnut Cake Bar: I didn't know Thornton's did cakes but now I do know, I shall go here there again. Five bars for £1.39. The bars are quite small but very tasty. Much better than a Snickers or Mars bar if you need a choccy snack.


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