Last Wednesday, I had to travel to Solihull, which is less than two hours from Cambridge by car but more than four hours by public transport. I was smart, though. I bought my train and bus tickets a week early so that it only cost me £22.
Here is what happened that day.
| 11.04
| Train from Cambridge to Birmingham. Productive two hours, working on my laptop for my dissertation.
|
| 13.45
| Arrived in Birmingham New Street station. Walked to Birmingham Moor Street Station
|
| 14.20
| Train from Birmingham to Solihull
|
| 14.45
| Bus from Solihull to meeting location (I was so lucky! The bus only comes every hour and the trip is half an hour so I arrived in time for the 15.30 start time.
|
| 15.50
| Meeting starts late.
|
| 17.45
| Meeting runs an hour over time. As I leap on the bus back to Solihull station, I realise that I’m not going to make it in time for my 18.25 train from Birmingham back to Cambridge.
|
| 16.15
| The helpful man at the Solihull ticket office tells me that I will have to buy a new train ticket to Cambridge for £38.50 (A$96). I realise I can go to Oxford for half that price. With five minutes before the Oxford train departs, I try to buy the ticket. The card machine will not accept my bank card. I am forced to use my Australian credit card — foreign transaction fees 🙁
|
| 18.25
| I get on the train in time.
|
| 19.40
| I arrive in Oxford. I walk slowly to Damjan’s place. A day of walking in heels is painful. I make in time for Damjan’s birthday — hooray! |
It turned out to be an expensive adventure. I wasted a train ticket from Solihull to Birmingham and Birmingham to Cambridge. I had to buy a bus ticket from Oxford back to Cambridge. I needed a new toothbrush, clothes, and a pair of shoes (the heels were not a long-term walking proposition). But I had a nice unscheduled holiday. Damjan had Melbourne friends over, we went punting and also had a birthday celebration.
Now I am very far behind my dissertation schedule. If I don’t post as frequently, this is a good sign for my research.
