11th January - Under Way

The normal form for one of these jaunts is to take a flight to somewhere exotic like Kochi or Delhi or more usually Kolkata, have a couple of beers and then get on a train. This time things are slightly out of kilter as we start with a couple of trains before we even go near an aeroplane. The first one doesn't count as it is just the local into Edinburgh but the second one cuts the mustard as the start of the holiday. Virgin Trains West Coast run Pendolino tilting trains that sometimes go as fast as 180 kph. They are the Shatabdis of railways in the UK with the added benefit of free gratis tumblers of wine (only available south of Preston). The hot beverages and snacks are just as frequent as in India. Best of all, the doors cannot be opened while moving so the staff can't throw the rubbish overboard.  In fact even better, the Virgin staff don't come round soliciting for tips at the end of the trip.  Mr Modi should recruit Sir Richard Branson to sort out Indian Railways. We wouldn't miss him. We get to London on time and find the taxi rank. No haggling over the fare. It's all on the meter. We travel about two miles from Euston to Paddington. I remember buying a holiday to Benidorm for less. The Brunel Hotel is chosen for its proximity to the railway station and value for money. This approach has got D into trouble in years gone by but he gets away with it this time. Nobody can accuse the proprietors of wasting space but it seems clean enough and we are only here for one night. We have a night on the town in London for the first time in a few years.  When did the rules change to say that every pub in London has to be Greene King? Eventually we find an alternative supplier proudly boasting that for only £3.90 one could buy a pint of Tetley's. How we laugh. The London food scene has changed a bit as well.  We see an Aberdeen Steak House that actually has customers.  The most depressing thing is the number of places with good looking food but only tumblers of water to go with it.  We opt for 'Flavors of India' , forgive them the missing 'u' and enjoy an excellent meal with poppadoms, pickles, dal, lamb biryani and the best naan bread we have had outside India.  The Nasik Valley Shiraz is OK and the Cobra lager just how one might expect it to be.