Various factors had put our annual trip to Slaley Hall in doubt, but we’re just back, and as ever we had a terrific time.

We do take with us all manner of diversions but end up spending most of the evenings blethering, plus on the train I had with me the Ipod, DSi, DVD player, and radio phone, but we both simply read our books or watched the glorious east coast scenery.  Northumbria blazed in its autumn coat, one day we will see this favoured county in the summer!  We managed without the car.

But here’s a suggestion to rail companies, a quiet coach is already provided, how about one for passengers who want to pick fights with each other?  To start it off, all the seats could be reserved but give all the passengers reservations which don’t match.  That was piloted yesterday and it worked ….