Travel knitting – live train blogging
There is very little I dislike more than the apparent joys of travel. I hate packing bags, forgetting important things, lifting, pulling or otherwise mobilising heavy luggage amassed mostly of completely pointless and bulky objects. I dislike being without my home comforts and the things people, and places that make me happy.
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye.
So, as my train finds its way at an increasing distance from Lancaster, my heart is not exactly filled with joy at my delayed, busy journey – a journey of which the horrors should have been cushioned a little at the promise of a free at-seat service offering tea and coffee which has unsurprisingly yet to materialise, but there are a few things that do help to make the experience at least a little more bearable.
David Dimbleby telling me STUFF about STUFF
Firstly, iPlayer. Auntie’s greatest gift to the busy and the disorganised, and the traveller at large. Having the foresight to expect the chattering removed company of angry, delayed people, I downloaded a couple of episodes of some of my favourite shows so I can immerse myself in the bubble of David Dimbledore’s journey through the seven ages of Great Britain.
Blocking out the sounds of the rattling train is half the trick
Secondly, audiobooks. I have about 40 on my iPod, and though I am currently a short way into Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, for this journey I am listening to Richard Dawkins’ The Greatest Show on Earth, mostly because I love the slight sneer in his voice when I am stuck in a carriage with broken air conditioning, whilst the train ‘rests’ at an embankment for 20 minutes without explanation as to why our ETA is moving so far into the future that I’m going to have to call up Marty McFly to bring me back home.
Please bring me my tea or this needle will end up somewhere unfortunate
And lastly, my sticks and string.
What better time to whip out your needles and wool than whilst you have (at least) three hours (and counting – seriously, how delayed is this train?) of uninterrupted knitting, with nothing to distract you, or demand your attention. I can sit back in my seat, iPod or iPlayer for company and entertainment, with stitch after relaxing stitch building from one needle to the next.
So, as I recline backwards into this window-side view and watch the rolling grassy vista of the English countryside drift by, past the sunlit hills of this green and pleasant land, the business and chatter can slowly melt away and I can just enjoy the gentle, silent rhythm of needles and wool.
Someone had seriously better start thinking of bringing me a cup of tea soon, though, otherwise I’m going to kick-off….
