Peterborough - better than you think

[altariel]

Like mraltariel, I was surprised to find that contrary to the impression given by, well, the railway station chiefly, Peterborough is not 'orrible after all. Quite the reverse, in fact. The cathedral is particularly beautiful, although - as seems to happen to me a lot - the unique Gothic west front was covered in scaffolding. Everywhere I go, a scaffolding company seems to be a fortnight ahead (the Brandenburg Gate was a particular blow). Just as we were getting tired of wandering around, and were glumly thinking about resorting to the museum, a market researcher offered shelter from the rain, a cup of tea, and a means of killing twenty minutes.

We were in Peterborough to sort out Mr A's passport, after the tumble dryer's wicked assault on it last week. The agency which deals them out is apparently now called the Identity and Passport Service. Identity Service? What's all that about? "Ooh, I must take my identity in for a service..." Also, the Union Flag seemed to be flying everywhere. I thought this might be because we were in UKIP country, but apparently government buildings can fly them at their discretion. Have they always been doing this and I just haven't noticed?

It was a good day to be out in the fens, because it kept switching between bright sunshine and sudden showers. On the train back home, between Manea and March, you could look out and watch the heavy dark clouds hanging over a silvered bit of clear sky, which suddenly merged into a haze of grey across where the rain was falling.

All day I had a shocking pain in my diodes sharp pain stretching from my right eye down through my jaw and to my neck, which generously brought with it sudden waves of nausea. It's still hanging around today, though it's not quite as bad. Is there something going round?

Oh, and Peterborough railway station did me a brilliant bacon buttie while we were waiting for the train home, so I shouldn't scoff at it either.

Comments

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

You'll be selling Peterborough to aliens next. "Look, it's not 'orrible after all and you can get brilliant bacon butties at the station." Can't think of anything else your average alien will need, and besides, you can distract them with picture postcards of the cathedral.

I like looking out on the countryside between Peterborough and your home. There is lots of sky, and the trees are all bent in the direction of the wind. I see Ents on that journey.

I hope the pain is easing up, and if anything, it's a bug that goes far, far away, and never returns.

[trixieleitz]

I like looking out on the countryside between Peterborough and your home. There is lots of sky, and the trees are all bent in the direction of the wind. I see Ents on that journey.

It is lovely, isn't it? And for me, it had that bonus feeling of being nearly home after a long journey. If I had to change at Ely in daylight, I'd just stare out across the fields until the next train came.

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

I think I've only ever been changing trains in a mad rush at Ely, but it always looks very lovely from the train, and it's good to know that should I be there for a while, there's countryside upon which I can bend my gaze.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize you'd never been to Ely. We should think about a day trip up there next time you're down in Cambridge.

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

That would be lovely! It always looks very lovely from the train.

*hugs*

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I demand a posting to the Camden Lock!

I see Ents on that journey.

Yes! Striding toward Norfolk, unhastily!

The pain has all but gone this morning, thank you. I think it may be a variation on the usual stress headache, but I could do without it.

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

I demand a posting to the Camden Lock!

I think you'd be captain in less than 24 hours!

Yes! Striding toward Norfolk, unhastily!

Hooooom-hom.

I am glad the pain has gone, and I hope it stays away for a very long while.