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July 25, 2006
On a personal note
Off yesterday down to London for the New Statesman New Media Awards 2006. Should have know it wasn't going to be my night. First off, train was late leaving Doncaster (that's your train, GNER). Then realise the aircon had failed in the coach my reserved seat was in (that's your coach in your train GNER), and that everyone from further north had blagged the free seats in coaches with functioning aircon. So, an hour and forty five minutes of being boiled almost senseless (thank you GNER) with the only relief being frequent trips to the buffet for chilled drinks.
Got to London alive (just, thank you GNER) and managed a reviving pint with Tim in the Elephant and Castle before heading to the awards. Backing Blair didn't win (see, told you that train crap was an omen), though congrats to the MySociety guys who won two awards. Further compensation arrived when David Milliband received the Noob Award for most witless use of the internet.
On closer examination, the prescence of filthy lucre (okay, a fiver) can be seen. Anyone know what happened to this sordid note?
Some post award drinks, mingling with the almost great, the wannabe great, the good and Guido. Followed by a return home. Which was comfortably sabotaged by TfL's signal failure, causing me to miss the last train back oop north. Great Portland St Underground station is not an ideal place to be stuck for fifteen minutes while your watch counts down to "Oh shit, now how am I going to get home?" time.
Thanks to a help member of staff at King's Cross (and yah boo sucks to the other tossers who couldn't be arsed), I made the 00:36 to Peterborough. Via MutantLand aka West Norfolk. On a slow, uncomfortable train (that's your train First Capital Connect) with a vomit-drenched toilet. For nearly two hours. On arrival at Peterborough mon père had selflessly driven down and was waiting. Taking over driving duties (more than five hours after anything vaguely alcoholic had been near my lips), I finally arrived home just before 5am this morning.
No hangover, but Christ am I knackered!
Posted by Clive on July 25, 2006 12:43 PM in the category Personal
Comments
Glad you eventually made it home. I treated myself to another couple in Camden to make up for the uselessness of that tube journey.
Great pic.
Posted by: Paul Davies at July 25, 2006 2:40 PM
Aye. Next time I think I'll stop overnight and get bladdered instead.
Posted by: Clive at July 25, 2006 2:51 PM