site visit travel "inconveniences"

i went on a site visit yesterday, september 01, monday. it was in bristol about 80-90 miles west from London, and our high wycombe office is located north about another 35 miles away.

of all the things that could go wrong that day, it had to be the train system.

i went along with one of our project managers. from our office, we travelled by car to reading, southwest of high wycombe. from reading, we booked a train to bristol. our train was supposed to arrived at 11:57am. it arrived at 12:23pm. our meeting was scheduled at 2pm, and it was an hour and a half ride. i guess we were lucky.

when we got back to the bristol station at 4:15pm, we boarded the 4:30pm train to london paddington... and at exactly 4:30pm the driver announced that the trip was cancelled. we had to wait at the platform for the 5:00pm train.

it's a good thing i already bought a ticket from reading to high wycombe earlier, as it would really be a hassle just to go down at reading, purchase a ticket and board the next train again. our project manager got off at the reading station. i would not want to be stuck alone in an unfamiliar station.

i arrived in paddington station at 6:45pm. went to the london underground to catch the train at marylebone station going to high wycombe. and just when i was thinking of having dinner at home, the driver announced that the marylebone station was closed because of a fire alarm or flooding, i could not remember... how would i get home? the only trains going to high wycombe terminates at marylebone!? i was thinking of maybe getting a taxi or bus or asking leo to pick me up somewhere...

and then, thank you Lord!...there really is a guardian angel, just as the underground train approaches marylebone, the driver said it has reopened...

can't you just imagine that? we got delayed at reading, we got cancelled at bristol, and my only station home - marylebone was closed...

i got home just in time for dinner... and then i remembered, i have a St. Jude novena in my bag...:)