5th February 2004 - do they know it's Christmas time at all? photo

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5th February 2004 - do they know it's Christmas time at all?

Today was our Christmas Lunch. The day when the whole Healthcare team goes out for a slap-up lunch after a morning of presentations about the shape of our business for last year and what we are expected to achieve during the coming year. The team also learns what their bonus will be.

I have, for years now, been 'Quizmaster' and am expected to put together a quiz that people do over their lunch and the winners get the exciting prize of a box of chocs. This year was no exception. I spent Wednesday evening putting together a 'killer' quiz for them and delivered it on Thursday lunchtime. This photo is some of the team enjoying a bit of the Christmas spirit. Sorry it's so poor - on board flash!!

That was the start of my little mini 'nightmare'......

I left the restaurant and made my way onto a train at 6.30pm and did a 'Linda Classic' and fell asleep over my book. The next thing I knew, I woke up and the train was hurtling along in what appeared to be the wrong direction. It was. It was also dark in the carriage and there were no passengers. It was scary. I got up and walked along the carriage to the end and its door was locked. It was exactly like being in a weird horror movie. I panicked and tried banging on the door. No-one heard me. I tried to open the outside door but the train had electric doors and they were disabled. I did the only thing I could think of. I pulled the emergency cord. You know the one, the one that has a BIG sign saying 'Penalty for improper use Ł100'. It was pitch dark so I had to grope my way around the door to find the pull switch but eventually I found it and the train came to a stop.

The lights went on and the guard came through the train. He claimed to have checked the train at Guildford but obviously didn't check it very well. The train stopped at the next station, I got off, crossed the bridge and got on one returning to Guildford. It was early, I'd got on the train originally at 6.30pm and it was only 7.30pm before I was back on my way home. The train had been taken out of service because it was a commuter train and wasn't needed for a return trip to London, just my luck! If it had been on a normal trip, I'd just have been able to get off at the next scheduled stop.

I had a lucky break. If I'd woken later, I could have been in a train bedroom somewhere with lots of trains asleep around me and no people until the morning. Phew!

This is something of habit for me. I had to walk home from Sandhurst station recently because I'd forgotten to get off at Blackwater where David was sitting in the car waiting for me (and his mobile was at home). I've also ended up in Fleet when I missed my stop on the way home from London one night.....need I go on? I just thank good fortune that I found the emergency button.

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All images copyright Linda Alstead except where stated

Guest		09-Feb-2004 10:57
Yikes! That would be my biggest nightmare! I don't like being in my house alone, so I can't imagine what that fely like! Love, your scaredycat little sister!XX

mikiruaq		08-Feb-2004 07:57
Just incredible!! A great story and a good laugh for me not you :)

Chris Brooker		08-Feb-2004 00:11
{EEFLCS = Empty, Except For Linda, Coaching Stock}

Guest		07-Feb-2004 12:02
Awk!! Sounds awful, like some kind of suspense movie. Good for you for pulling the cord, I think I might have been a bit like Angela and kept waiting until "someone came" and would likely have spent the night there!

jeanb		06-Feb-2004 19:30
Funny when you tell it, but I imagine it was somewhat less than that at the time!

Guest		06-Feb-2004 19:00
Oh man! Falling alseep on the train! Too much. I often worry about falling asleep DRIVING. When I am the passenger, I fall asleep in about 5 seconds. The hum of the engine does it for me all the time Actually, that's a good idea, with the insomnia I have!!

Mike R		06-Feb-2004 17:40
You would have been OK, Linda, all the trains have a little chat and some supper before turning in for the night so that would have woken you up. Then, one particularly kind train would have helped you home. The trains would also have told a passing pidgeon the let David know that you were safe and would be home soon. Now, where's my swan, I think I will ride home on the scenic route.......

Guest		06-Feb-2004 15:45
OMG that would be a nightmare for me! Glad you're all right though. If it were me, I'd have been too scared to pull the emergency cord and sat there thinking "oh someone will come round shortly to check again.. I'll just wait a bit longer" until I was so far out, or as you said, parked in a train bedroom somewhere! On a lighter note, I'm intrigued about the quizzes.. I just LOVE quizzes -- angela :)

brother_mark		06-Feb-2004 15:21
Hilarious Linda, after the fact, of course. You would think a passenger exiting at Guildford could have said, "Hey wake up lady." I'm always afraid of falling asleep on the train and waking up far away. Usually though I only miss my stop when I'm actually awake. Either I'm so deep in thought or a book that I don't realize where I am.

Guest		06-Feb-2004 15:15
oohh... that would have been so scary! Glad you are alright.

gary becker		06-Feb-2004 14:10
What a great story. At least it's funny in the re-telling. And that looks like a fun group.

Ray :)		06-Feb-2004 13:25
Reminds me of when I was due to meet my brother at Hook, but I got on a train to Ash Vale instead! No mobile phones in those days! But I've never been on what is known in the trade as an ECS train before! Nor have I heard of anyone else managing it, so well done! Love quizzes and have compiled some in the past - I have a little list of possible future questions whenever I hear a quirky fact or news story! [ECS=Empty Coaching Stock]