The most popular entry on my blog is the defence of French Chauvanism (Parte Deux) – don’t ask me why (although I suspect the reference to Walt Disney might have something to do with it) – So I’m pleased to say that today I just about arrived a Paris with Mrs Rambler for a well needed week away.
We’re staying in the opulent surroundings of the Hotel Regina – which, if you’re a film buff is the hotel in the Bourne Identity dripping with Art Nouveau trimmings in Paris, next to the Golden statue of Jeanne D’Arc, which draws crowds of right wing Buffoons laying wreaths on behalf of the French Front Nationale once every year – hopefully not this week though!
What is rather amusing, however is that we have been placed in Room 101. Now, before the BBC got hold of it Room 101 had a lineage in the Orwell novel 1984
“You asked me once, what was in Room 101. I told you that you knew the answer already. Everyone knows it. The thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world.”
However, our Room 101 is very nice, with a 25 foot high ceiling and lovely 2nd Empire furniture. But we very nearly didn’t get here.
We decided, in honour of the move of Eurostar to St Pancras to forgo our usual chauffeured car ride to London and take the train. Mistake number one.
Mistake number two was to throw ourselves on the mercy of the new British railway ticketing system and get an off peak ticket. This results in the staff at Bedford station holding back the hordes, in case they might get on a train whoch gets in five minutes earlier (all because paying for a ticket inspector to enforce fair fares and public safety is an unpleasant extra for the private rail companies) – when they did let us through (2 minutes early – pass round the OBEs) the train was sent off to sidings and we had to wait for another to arrive, from the sidings…
The train then stopped just outside Luton, and it was apparently beyond the wit of the operator to reroute the train and keep us moving (given that it was an 8 line stretch), no, we had to change trains, twice, whilst various halfwitted employees flitted about trying deperately not to help any customers.
We then got a 4 carriage train for the accumulated people of two 8 carriage trains – guess what that was like.
In the end, we only just got to the train on time – but in passing did see “Dogshit” Rory from season 3 of the apprentice wandering across the concourse at St Pancras
Yes, I thought you might have forgotten him too..
What struck me was that we have done brilliantly with St Pancras (as a nation), but it’s a fluke, a mistake – should never have had British trains coming into it. I’ve spoken before about livery being unimportant on trains, but I hold that the appearance and bearing of employees IS something to comment on. I don’t care if they have pink scarves, pink shirts, blue pants or purple hats, in fact they could re-introduce the old BR Kepis if they wanted to – as long as the people wearing them look like they give a monkeys about how they look – because, guess what, when people look competent and proud, they sometimes get away with being a little less than competent by giving a convincing act. First Capital Connect take note.
And if you ever do read this at FCC – he was a spotty youth with his trousers at MC Hammer level and a sullen look – I’d give him some intensive retraining if I were you.
Anyway – it’s been a stressful first day – but we’re here now – so more blogging from the land of Steak Tartare (very nice) and escargots – (also lovely) to come
