Mother and Daughter Trip – Returning to Battersea

I had an amazing weekend catching up with my friend and to end our time together we went out for brunch before I had to catch my my train back to Clapham Junction.

The weather today brought slight rain but I managed to stay dry.

I now consider myself to be a confident and capable user of the British Public Transport System. I was even arrogant enough to comment to my friend that if you get lost using it you must be an idiot. There are constant reminders of the next stop, announcements about delays or changes, electronic notice boards indicating platform numbers etc. It’s all so simple.

It can be tricky sometimes, she warned, people do get confused and find themselves on the wrong train.

Well I certainly won’t, I scoffed and off I went dragging my bag confidently behind me.

It was rather a heavy bag but I could manage it quite well thank you. But it was nice when a young man gallantly took it from me and helped get me and it into the coach. Did my grey hair give away my advanced age?

At Harrow & Wealdstone I had to change trains. There was a half hour wait for the 14:29 to Clapham Junction. I found the right platform and sat in the waiting shelter. Over the public address system I heard something about cancelled services due to line maintenance – Does that affect the train to Clapham? I asked the shelter full of people.

A Jamaican voice replied, No – your train is the second one to come into platform 6. Relieved, I thanked him. But did I listen properly? I was about to hop onto the 14:25 when the same Jamaican voice called out – hey I told you – the second train – it comes @ 14:29!

Oh boy – I would have found myself on an express and miles away before I could correct my error! To say I was profusely grateful would be an understatement.

You would think that after that near disaster I would not be so stupid as to get confused about a familiar bus! Ha! Usually only the Number 170 bus stops in Grant Road outside Clapham Junction – but today there were extra busses transporting train commuters from station to station because of the work on the lines! And it was onto one of these I innocently hopped! I HAD asked a bus conductor if the bus went to York Road but he ignored me as others were questioning him too. He DID say where the bus was going but I didn’t know if my stop was on that route. And only when the bus moved off did I get an answer! Oh dear! Fortunately it stopped around the corner at another Clapham entrance and I got the 170 from there.

Moral of the story – Always check and check again that you’re going the right way!

The rest of my day/evening was stunning. Lolz and I sorted out the flat, dropped the keys with the concierge and took an Uber to The Holiday Inn Express in Greenwich. We checked into a stunning twin room, freshened up and Walked (15 minutes) to O2 which is very viby and has dozens of restaurants to choose from.

Katja and hubby Philip with 10 week old baby in pram met us there. We chose to dine at Zizzi’s. Lolz had Risotto and I had a divine prosciutto salad. We drank Prosecco and the waiter asked, Are you celebrating anything?

In unison Lolz and I said Yes – then I said, Every day is a celebration🥂 and she said we’re celebrating Life! 🍾

And we did, the food was good, the conversation interesting and the company charming.

Tomorrow we’re off to Europe!

3 thoughts on “Mother and Daughter Trip – Returning to Battersea

  1. Oh my goodness u are so brave. That was our biggest fear getting on the wrong train or bus. Glad u manage to get home safe and sound. Enjoy your next adventure.

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a reply to ary Craig Cancel reply