The cat gets car sick and I get sea sick. The cat probably gets sea sick too, but we've never actually attempted to figure that out. There are some theories that don't need proving.
So we decided that the best method of transport from Ireland to England was taxi, plane, taxi, car, ferry, train and car. An updated version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles with a much less catchy title.
The day started out well, beautiful and sunny in Waterford. It wasn't sunny in England though which wreaked havoc with the plane schedule. I was booked to fly out at 11.20 am but got a text saying flight was delayed until 3. It was quite useful actually as it gave us a chance to run some errands, do final cleaning on the house and pick up some blaas with red lead for lunch – the quintessential Waterford lunch which will be missed!
A few hours later found Pix and I jumping in a taxi to the airport. We were a bit early so we waited. When the desk opened, I got to check us all in but keep Pixie with me. We waited and waited, then more delays, more announcements. Our flight finally took off just after 5. No incidents on the flight, she was delivered to me in Manchester and we grabbed another taxi.
The taxi in Manchester was supposed to save me stress. Here I was with massive bag and cat and didn't want to have to walk to train, wait for train, etc. I should have taken the train. The taxi driver argued with me pretty much the whole time – I think he thought given my foreign accent that I didn't know where I was going. But, we made it to the Girls' (workmate of hubby and her partner who our first Manchester friends) house in the end.
The next morning I awoke early and was off. First stop, Starbucks for an eggnog latte – ah, heaven in a cup! Seriously gorgeous. Then I hopped a train to Holyhead, Wales.
The only glitch on the train ride was changing trains in Chester. Changing trains wasn't a problem. I picked up a sausage butty (that is two pieces of bread, butter and sausage for my deprived American friends who don't get to eat them) at the train station café. As with most train stations here, there really isn't indoor areas at the stations. Most stations are closed with just the platforms available for waiting. Although some have warm waiting rooms, including Chester. However, this was a very small waiting room with about a dozen seats. Every one of those seats was taken by two people and their howling children. I'm not kidding, the whole waiting room. Okay, I know you are thinking that I don't like kids so of course I'd be irritated. You are wrong. Kids are wonderful. In this case my ire was focused on the parents – there was no reason for them to hog the entire waiting room. It was freezing outside. My hot-out-of-the-microwave sausage butty practically froze before I was able to finish it.
The rest of the train ride was great. Most of the route took me along the northern coast of Wales on a sunny day. Spectacular. We passed by a walled city which I took note of to stop on the
way back.
I was soon in Holyhead and alighting from the train. Hubby and I had been texting so I knew he was already there. I come off the train with romantic visions but no hubby. And no exit signs. Seriously confusing train station. One foray to the wrong parking lot but we were soon reunited.
Then in the car to do the reverse of the route that I had just taken. This time though chatting about our adventures and getting new scenery. Because I was on the water side of the train, I had missed the Welsh mountains. We only got peek-a-boo glances but WOW! Can't wait to explore more…
We stopped in Conwy (Wales) for lunch, the walled city that I had seen from the train. Another place that will require more exploring, especially the kitchen shop that only deprived us of a little of our cash.
A couple hours later, and we were back in Manchester. Hubby and kitty reunited! That evening we explored on of Manchester's holiday traditions: the German market. The squares downtown are filled with wood stalls selling all kinds of wursts in buns; at least 20 recipes of mulled wine and other hot, boozy drinks; fruit on sticks dipped in chocolate and lots of other fun stuff. We milled about with our new Manchester neighbours in the pouring rain/sleet/slush munching and drinking and toasting our new home.
So we decided that the best method of transport from Ireland to England was taxi, plane, taxi, car, ferry, train and car. An updated version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles with a much less catchy title.
The day started out well, beautiful and sunny in Waterford. It wasn't sunny in England though which wreaked havoc with the plane schedule. I was booked to fly out at 11.20 am but got a text saying flight was delayed until 3. It was quite useful actually as it gave us a chance to run some errands, do final cleaning on the house and pick up some blaas with red lead for lunch – the quintessential Waterford lunch which will be missed!
A few hours later found Pix and I jumping in a taxi to the airport. We were a bit early so we waited. When the desk opened, I got to check us all in but keep Pixie with me. We waited and waited, then more delays, more announcements. Our flight finally took off just after 5. No incidents on the flight, she was delivered to me in Manchester and we grabbed another taxi.
The taxi in Manchester was supposed to save me stress. Here I was with massive bag and cat and didn't want to have to walk to train, wait for train, etc. I should have taken the train. The taxi driver argued with me pretty much the whole time – I think he thought given my foreign accent that I didn't know where I was going. But, we made it to the Girls' (workmate of hubby and her partner who our first Manchester friends) house in the end.
The next morning I awoke early and was off. First stop, Starbucks for an eggnog latte – ah, heaven in a cup! Seriously gorgeous. Then I hopped a train to Holyhead, Wales.
The only glitch on the train ride was changing trains in Chester. Changing trains wasn't a problem. I picked up a sausage butty (that is two pieces of bread, butter and sausage for my deprived American friends who don't get to eat them) at the train station café. As with most train stations here, there really isn't indoor areas at the stations. Most stations are closed with just the platforms available for waiting. Although some have warm waiting rooms, including Chester. However, this was a very small waiting room with about a dozen seats. Every one of those seats was taken by two people and their howling children. I'm not kidding, the whole waiting room. Okay, I know you are thinking that I don't like kids so of course I'd be irritated. You are wrong. Kids are wonderful. In this case my ire was focused on the parents – there was no reason for them to hog the entire waiting room. It was freezing outside. My hot-out-of-the-microwave sausage butty practically froze before I was able to finish it.The rest of the train ride was great. Most of the route took me along the northern coast of Wales on a sunny day. Spectacular. We passed by a walled city which I took note of to stop on the
way back.I was soon in Holyhead and alighting from the train. Hubby and I had been texting so I knew he was already there. I come off the train with romantic visions but no hubby. And no exit signs. Seriously confusing train station. One foray to the wrong parking lot but we were soon reunited.
Then in the car to do the reverse of the route that I had just taken. This time though chatting about our adventures and getting new scenery. Because I was on the water side of the train, I had missed the Welsh mountains. We only got peek-a-boo glances but WOW! Can't wait to explore more…
We stopped in Conwy (Wales) for lunch, the walled city that I had seen from the train. Another place that will require more exploring, especially the kitchen shop that only deprived us of a little of our cash.A couple hours later, and we were back in Manchester. Hubby and kitty reunited! That evening we explored on of Manchester's holiday traditions: the German market. The squares downtown are filled with wood stalls selling all kinds of wursts in buns; at least 20 recipes of mulled wine and other hot, boozy drinks; fruit on sticks dipped in chocolate and lots of other fun stuff. We milled about with our new Manchester neighbours in the pouring rain/sleet/slush munching and drinking and toasting our new home.
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