Not the Best of Days
Yesterday, I went to the football at Ipswich.
Before I left, I checked on TfL’s excellent Countdown system to see how long I’d have to wait for a 21 or 141 bus and it said that there would be three within the next five minutes and then a ten minute wait. I just missed the last of the three and so I thought I’d text the bus stop to find out how long I’d have to wait. But of course, I now had my Blackberry, instead of my Nokia 6310i and I couldn’t send the simple message of just 5 digits. Another reason for chucking the sodding F*ckberry. So no information. The first 141 was obviously in a hurry and drove straight past, despite five of us flagging it down. I then walked to the next stop, where other buses for Liverpool Street also depart. In the end, I caught another 141 and the driver apologised for his colleague.
One of the pleasures of going to Portman Road by train, is that if you pick your trains right, you get a Norwich train, with comfortable Mk. 3 coaches and a real engine to push you all the way. But today, no trains were running to Norwich, so it was one of the old multiple units, with no tables or arm-rests.
So by the time I got to Ipswich my left arm was really giving me gip, as there was no place to rest it.
Ipswich did win a rather scrappy game by the only goal of the game, which was the highpoint of the day.
But going home was a repeat of the journey down in an old dirty train. I needed to go to the toilet and the conductor apologised before I went. It was one of the dirtiest I’d ever seen on a train.
At least, I got back to Liverpool Street on time and then I walkked through to Moorgate to get a 141 home. Because of Crossrail, the area is in total chaos and I had to walk a long way, as the normal bus stop was closed.
TfL should have thought out how they do the buses in that area better! The chaos will go on for years.
At least I was able to have a decent drink in the Northgate.
The first thing I did when I got home, was to put my Sim-card back into the Nokia 6310i
92 Clubs – Day 36 – A Day Off
The real reason was to see Ipswich play at home to Doncaster, but I also had to go to have a blood test taken before the match.
92 Clubs – Day 22 – Northampton
That was all I managed, on a day, when I intended to do Northampton in the morning, then take the train to Ipswich for the match against Crystal Palace and then visit Norwich in the evening.
But I did get to Northampton on a train from Euston and a taxi from the station.
Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium
I got back to London quickly and then my troubles started.
I thought I might get my paper at Euston, but in the end I gave up, as despite about twenty people queuing in W H Smith’s there was only one till open. The obvious way to Liverpool Street on the Circle line was closed due to engineering work, so I took the Northern line to Moorgate and walked to the station.
I tried to buy another paper and guess what. Twenty people queuing and one harrassed and very overworked assistant trying desperately to show customers how to use the automatic tills. I can’t use those, as they don’t accept my prepayment vouchers for The Times. So I left, vowing never to cross the threshold of any of their shops again in a very loud voice. I am very stubborn and never ever will.
I then got my gluten-free sandwiches for lunch in Marks and Spencer, and then knew that I could just about catch the one o’clock train to Ipswich to get me to the match on time. So instead of buying a ticket from the booking office, where I can get a cheaper ticket to Ipswich from the Zone 6 boundary, I bought a slightly more expensive one in a machine.
I then needed to look for the platform and found that the indicator board showed only a few trains. Nation Express East Anglia were advising people to go to Newbury Park on the Underground and then get a replacement bus. In other words, I might get to Ipswich in time for the second half.
But of course it had completely mucked up my day, as if they were in this state now, what was it going to be like getting back from Norwich later in the evening.
I thought perhaps that if I got to Cambridge, I might be able to replan, so using my Freedom Pass, I took a train to Cambridge via Tottenham Hale. On the train, I phoned a fellow Ipswich fan, who I thought might be going. But he wasn’t, so I got out at Tottenham Hale, intending to get a bus home, as I knew the Victoria line wasn’t running.
In the end, I walked to South Tottenham station and got the Overground to Harringay Green Lanes, from where I got a 141 bus home.
And then of course Ipswich lost!
What particulaely annoys me about all this, was that there were no prominent signs about the engineering works in the station and especially at the entrance, where London Underground always place prominent signs.
I suppose I should have checked more thoroughly, so when I got home I checked the National Express East Anglia web site and they allow you to book tickets without warning you that your journey will be on a replacement bus. The only clue on the booking page is that it was two changes between Liverpool Street and Ipswich.
After all of the disruption of Tuesday, I had hoped I would have had a better trip. But then Tuesday was much better, as we at least had a train.
My heartfelt thanks go out to National Express East Anglia for ruining my day and charging me £22.30 for the privilege.
I know I wasn’t the only person, who’d missed the disruption, as several other Ipswich and Crystal Palace fans were at Liverpool Street in a seriously muddled state.
I know it was my fault for not spotting that engineering work was taking place. In fact, I usually buy my ticket a few days in advance at the station and tried to on Tuesday, but it was impossible in the chaos that evening. And of course on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I had better things to do than make a special trip to Liverpool Street to buy a ticket. On the other hand, what idiot decided that the best day to do engineering work, was when quite a few football fans would be travelling between London and Ipswich?
In all my travels around the country visiting the 92 clubs, I’ve never had a wasted day like this.
I should also say that I’ve never missed a football match, after leaving home with the intention of going in all of my sixty-four years.
So what would I have done, if I had been the Fat Controller at National Express East Anglia.
- I know that engineering work has to be done, but surely to organise it when Ipswich are at home to a London club is not a good idea. Especially, when the day is the first day of half-term and there will be a lot of families trvelling on the trains anyway. So I would have made sure that the work was done at some other time, or if it had to be done then, I’d have arranged for announcements and program notices at the two clubs previous home matches. I was at Ipswich on the Tuesday and no announcement was made, either at the stadium or on the train. I can’t speak for the program, as I didn’t buy one, as I was so tired and stressed after the journey up, due to the crowded train.
- I’d make sure that the engineering works were fully publicised throughout the week, with notices at the entrance to the station.
- I would have made sure that Radio London and BBC Radio 5, gave full details on the Saturday, so that passemgers were forewarned.
- I’d also set up an alternative route out of London for Norwich and Ipswich passengers. The new trains to Cambridge are much bigger and could be used to shuttle passengers to Whittlesford, which has a large parking area, from where buses could be used to take passengers to an onward station like Needham Market, where they connect to Ipswich, Norwich and Colchester. It wouldn’t be perfect, but better and faster than the current route via Newbury Park and Ingatestone.
The Much-Improved Trafalgar Square
When I was young Trafalgar Square was rather a tacky place, where you went for New Year’s Eve, if you cvould brave it. Traffic rushed everywhere and the central part was completely cut off from everywhere else. But look at it now.
It just shows how things can be improved by removing the traffic.
Is there a more impressive important square in a European capital?
The only problem, is that some Ipswich Town fans might protest that the admiral on the column is from Norfolk.
I do have some happy memories of the place from when I stood on the Fourth Plinth.
They Said The Seat Was Restricted View
This is the view from a restricted view seat at Blackpool.
A Restricted View at Blackpool
Especially, as Ipswich lost, I doubt I’ll be going again. I suppose it’s OK if your team doesn’t take too many fans to away matches.
But Ipswich do!
Is Blackpool the Most Pedestrian Unfriendly Resort in the UK?
I went to Blackpool with an open mind, but I had met a plumber from Wigan in Liverpool, who goes to that city with his bike, when he wants to get some sea air.
But I hadn’t been prepared for what I found.
Arriving at Blackpool North station, there was no map or instructions to help me get to the football ground or even the town centre. There was a map for sale at a pound or so,but it didn’t have either the station or the football ground on it.
I was told as a child, that if you’re lost, you should always ask a policeman. So I found two. But one was from Manchester and the other was from Preston. They hadn’t a clue on directions. So I suppose, if there was an incident, they’d probably turn up with difficulty and late.
In fact there are no useful maps in the dump, as to call it a town, insults all of those places, like Great Yarmouth, who care for their visitors so much better.
There is however this bus map on all the stops.
Blasckpool's Useless Bus Map
I suppose it might be useful to those who have the route they are taking to hand. But for me it was as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Close to the football ground it gets worse with roads that have no crossing places for pedestrians.
A typical Pedestrian-Friendly Crossing In Blackpool
The picture was taken on a busy roundabout. where are the protective lights? And here are some Ipswich fans trying to cross the road to McDonalds.
Ipswich Fans Dodge The Traffic in Blackpool
I know Blackpool has financial problems, but surely they want visitors to return.
Obviously they don’t want coeliacs, who have to walk everywhere!
92 Clubs – A Recce to Ipswich
I had to go to Ipswich to have some pictures taken for the 92 Clubs challenge.
Here’s a few I took from Ipswich Station to the ground.
As the pictures were all taken from a similar position, it just shows how close the station and the ground are.
We Thought That Ipswich Town Couldn’t Defend
After Ipswich Town’s fiascos against Southampton and Peterborough, I thought that things couldn’t get worse. Ipswich certainly improved against Leeds, but then today their defence was seriously out underperformed by both Spurs and Arsenal.
I think I’ll wear my Ipswich hat tomorrow.
Ipswich Beat Ten Man Leeds 2-1
They probably didn’t deserve it, but then Andy D’Urso did his best to make things difficult for Town until he rightly sent off Aidy White. Although, according to this report in The Telegraph, Simon Grayson, the Leeds United manager felt it harsh.
D’Urso is from Billericay in Essex, so should he officiating at a match in Suffolk?
On the other hand Leeds seem to be getting into practice to compete at the Olympics next year! In the diving!
Planning for the August Bank Holiday
As I’ve said before, I hate bank holidays.
For next Monday though I have a plan. Whilst I was travelling in Tottenham, I saw on the map a building named as Markfield Beam Engine and Museum.
I shall be going as it is in steam on the Monday.
I could even go to the football in the evening at Ipswich!
But the aim is to enjoy myself and judging by the way they are playing at the moment, a team made up of eleven fit men in the North Stand could do better.
The Anonymous Widower 