And they told me I have perfect eyesight... Plus, the door in question is actually in my flat so I should know perfectly well it's there

If I correctly recall an article on quantum tunneling that I read once, there would have been a miniscule chance that you'd have passed right through the door. Maybe next time?

Walk on 1st class train fare from Newquay, Cornwall to Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland : £1,002

People don't want to buy the train, they just want a ride on it...

If I had £1002...

Well I certainly wouldn't spend it on a train ticket!

Alto flute It might be enough...

Trevor James alto flute, curved head : £895

I don't want a curved head one. They look a bit cramped. I think I was okay with the straight head Pearl one I tried...

The equivalent straight head Trevor James : £850

Who needs a train ticket when they could buy an alto flute.

It depends - have you ever tried to get from one end of the country to the other on an alto flute?

I don't know, stick wheels on the case and you might be able to ride on it. It may take ages, but still...

But rarity is what puts the price up. A reliable train service from Cornwall???? That's priceless!!

So what you are saying is it would be quicker to affix wheels to an alto flute case

Yup, and decidedly more comfortable than the rattly things they send down here!!!

I think you do get cast-offs in the West. I once travelled on a bus in the South West, complete with poster detailing changes to bus services in Uxbridge

Chitty Flutey Bang Bang. A new mode of transport that rocks you with music as you fly throught the air to your destination.
Your pilot is Flossie.........an experienced player/driver who aims to get you to your destination in a relaxed state. After listening to her music, the miles will melt away.

Ironic really that we end up with the dregs as it was a Cornishman who invented the steam engine! I think they believe we're still just happy with indoor bathrooms and electricity

But we had the first railway.

Ok, I'll give you that

I'm confused. I thought that George Stephenson made the first steam locomotive as well as the first railway?

Richard Trevithick got there first

http://www.cottontimes.co.uk/trevithicko.htm

but it's something that seems to have escaped schools outside of Cornwall. In fact it's a bit of a sore subject here, along the same lines as carrots in pasties

They've closed most of our railways now. We have quite a few lines left in our area which don't have trains anymore.

Sounds familiar rail lines gone, mining industry gone too.....

I lament at the fact that we no longer send small boys up chimneys to clear them. Brushes really aren't as good

I had a very good friend that worked in the mines when he was younger, and it sounded like a horrific way of earning a living to me.

Don't we?????? I knew we were out of touch down here, but ............. (goes to call little urchin out of chimney)

Dr. Beeching...

To be fair... If you turn up on the day to get a ticket for a train journey like that, first class without realising that for part of your journey you won't be able to even travel first class, you must be pretty stupid and probably deserve to pay that much money

Plus, it's a 28 hour journey (including a 9 hour wait in Inverness) - you're getting your moneys worth on the train

Good point, well made.

If you book tickets well in advance, you can get some excellent deals. My excursion north on 13th November is setting me back ?22 return, which is excellent value

It's going to cost me about a tenner

Bargain!

Considering it's a 25 minute journey, not really

Another good point, well made!

I did look at buses, but I'm not really sure when we would we done with pizza?

I think some people wanted to have a look at Banks' at some stage in the proceedings too, so I'm not sure what time we'll all be done and dusted! I'll probably book the pizza for 3:45pm, and that way perhaps we can quickly call in at Banks' on the way for musical temptation

Talking of trains, I've just read that National Express will be stripped of their East Coast franchise on the day of the York recital (well, 11:59pm the previous day, but that's effectively the day of the recital really ) The government owned company will be called Directly Operated Railways. Catchy

Hmmm... last bus is at 6. It's about a fiver. Hmmm.

Will we be more than 2 hours eating pizza? I wonder?....

I've just realised that I can get the coastliner instead. That has later buses

Even better! Are they as cheap?

yep

I think, Claudia, you have the basis of a plan there

Someone in the pub informed me last night that this week is national sausage week.

Sauce: http://www.britishsausageweek.com/

The 5 year old in me was chuckling to himself for quite some time (and still is) pondering the opportunities for childish jokes

Our living room is being overrun by dozens of multi-coloured balloons

(It's my sister's 6th birthday tomorrow!)

Going to school proms on Wednesday with a load of friends... I don't know what to expect, hope it will be good!

Is that in preparation for being overrun by dozens of 6 year olds?!

The post strikes are off

You'll see me!! I'm playing in the orchestra for the Hampshire Massed Choir piece... it's... interesting. If it works it'll be fantastic...

Ooh, ok! I'll hopefully be somewhere at the front of the people in the pit bit where we stand, "promming it". Our teacher has told the best runners in our music class to sprint to the front, then stand with their arms out to save us all the best places I'm not sure if she was joking...

I'm really excited! What actually happens? Our teachers have just told us that it's lots of young musicians and we will leave buzzing, and they release balloons at the end.

Off to sleep now.

With two pairs of bed socks on

Goodnight forum!

Yep!