The last train

Here I am in Covent Garden before things went a little slightly pear-shaped. I won’t go into the details, but in summary:

• There was a Hare Krishna parade in Piccadilly – they only know one song, but they still have to put it on a banner in case they forget;
• Road and footpath totally blocked;
• My taxi cost an extra £10;
• It was 30 degrees today – heatwave;
• I’m under a glass roof in Waterloo station in the heat;
• The train to Exeter had no space for luggage and I have three suitcases about to rupture from the pressure inside;
• No air conditioning in 3 carriages (mine was fine) but the driver couldn’t cope;

• At Woking they shunt the carriages around so driver has a carriage with air conditioning;
• At Salisbury they abandon that train so we have to wait for the next one;
• I abandon plans for any further train travel, and spend the rest of the trip rearranging travel over the next three days;
• I arrive at Exeter two hours late;
• There are no taxis;
• I decide to walk in the pleasant evening cool;

• Exeter paving and my luggage wheels have a major disagreement;
• I arrive at my accommodation just as the kitchen is closing.