The beginning of my journey inevitably begins with a train ride. Well it had to didn't it? I bloody love a train ride. I don't mean the 5pm rush hour crush type (although I am quite partial to watching people get needlessly stressed out of their heads...I'm awful, I know). No I mean the leisurely, long distance, relaxed, sit back, life affirming kind of train ride...I'll explain...

I've often thought that you 'get time back' when you go on a long, meandering train journey and not in a Henry Booth 'Railway Time' sort of way (see link at the bottom in case your interested), not even in a timely wimey general relativity Einstein sort of way (look it up if you don't know what I'm on about, I aint doing all the work for you 😊).... I mean in a kind of philosophical way (you didn't think you'd get away without my philosophical musings, did you?... Yes I'm going there...I like to set my stall out early!😉.

I am not ashamed to say, some of the longest (and as it happens the most beautiful) train journeys I have been on have moved me to tears and given me a sense of perspective that I needed at that time. The world just feels so big and me so small when your whizzing through rolling (insert topological preference here) hills and that to me at least is very comforting.

Another, and perhaps less emotive, reason I love a long train ride is that you sometimes strike up a conversation with others whom you may not normally...or rather...they would normally be able to get away from you! Case in point, I pay homage to my fellow traveller for her grace and intrigue- she quite rightly wanted to remain nameless (and crucially faceless- maybe she's on the run?😉)- I am a man of my word but if you do end up reading this, then it would be remiss not to give you an honourable mention.

And so, in lieu of aforementioned 'fellow traveller' pic, I offer this...my ode to train travel...a muriel on the wall of Manchester Victoria that I am ashamed to admit, I have never noticed before....it's amazing what a derivé can bring to your attention😁

Onwards....