Portsmouth once more for 2014. in The odd entries from life …….

The Long Friday.

Friday morning Sweetheart drooped me off at the Park & ride, I was there at nine twenty five, a time when the roads in to Truro are still very busy; and even worst this being just eight shopping until the big day.

The Bus down into Truro was full but also quiet, looking round half of the heads were bent foreword, many now do not chat as they are to busy with a mobile phone, we are becoming a country of small tribes formed from family or school groups.

I suspect my i-phone is massively under used, I use my phone as a phone, and I prefer a camera over the one in my phone, I have used one of the games included with the phone, mostly when my Daughter and Ziggy are doing agility, I am in the car for an hour waiting; even then I mostly listen to the radio!

My train was on time, another quiet place with heads down, but we were all using our mobile’s, at Plymouth the that train made it’s last stop of the journey; the old words sounded through the coach’s ‘technically fault’ The next train didn’t leave the station for an other half hour, and it got me to Bristol five minutes after my train to Portsmouth had left!

Bristol Temples Meads Railway Station.

My third train of the day was very full as we left Bristol, people standing right through the coach, I manage to get a seat or I should say I made sure I got a seat, that was after an hour’s wait for it. I noticed several men taking their place on the platform, so I did the same.

Like most things in life you need luck and the train stopped with a coach door near to me, I felt one of the men pushing buy, I took a step foreword and left, then I was able to let a few ladies on before I fallowed them; quite a trick with a shoulder bag and two heavy hand bags – the trials of travelling with Christmas Gifts!

Once passed two stops the trains over crowding was over, and every one had a seat, as it should! So my five-o-clock arrive in Portsmouth tuned in to a six-o-clock arrival, it was very nice to be in my Sister’s warm home; and even better to be with her again.

Sunny Saturday.

I was a little getting out this morning, my Sister and Brother-in-law like to rise a little latter of a weekend, the house was warm and it was quite cold outside, over bowels of porridge we chatted about Mum mostly, plus wider families events; we don’t have such get to gathers so often. We run-over a little, it is better to see Mum before lunch.

At the Bus stop I found I had just missed on bus and the next would be round in ten minuets, with my walking pace I thought it would be quicker staying put, when I got on the bus I remembered to ask for ‘Palmerston Road’ but now the stop is called ‘Southsea Shops’ dumbing down or what! I suppose if I could not remember Palmerston Road it would have been kept!

When I got to the Home and pushed the door bell, it was five minutes until some one came to let me in, when I was in and bent over the day book sinning in Mum came round the corner, she asked ‘where is Aunties house, I know it’s near here’ I thought ‘we are in Shrewsbury again’ I asked if she knew who I was ‘Oh yes I know who you are’ and then she used my name; that limits it down to me and my uncle Eddy.

After that thing went down, as we were told at the start she would be as happy here as she would be any where, I finished the visit walking Mum to the dinning hall; she seems to settle with a few people. They are the usual three that sit at that table, I gave her a last wave and was gone; and I was able to remember the numbers to open the door, more the remembering the numbers I remember the pattern of the numbers!

After a quick lunch at my Sisters house, they were out at the Selling Club getting the tables ready for the evenings Christmas dinner, so I went into Portsmouth’s city centre for some Christmas shopping. Getting home I take a bus to The Hard, once there I found myself between buses, so I walked through Gunwharf Quay, the light was just fading and just the time to photograph the Christmas lights!

From seven I was on my own, my Sister and Hubby were of for the Selling Club Christmas dinner, I couldn’t go as the club isn’t large enough to seat all the members, they have to have a lottery for the members; but I didn’t mind at all! I had brought wrapping paper, gift labels, sticky tape, scissors and gift bags. By the time they retuned I had two gift bag with wrapped gifts and written Christmas Cards; organised or not!!

Santa Sunday.

Sunday was an other late start, bran flakes and toasts for breakfast, and a chat along the way! When I arrived at the Bus Stop I was again between buses, on Sundays there is half an hour between buses, so I walked round the corner towards Southsea Common; and there across the road hundreds of Santa’s running ……

On closer look I could see Mr Santa’s and Mrs Santa’s, and perhaps some Ms Santa’s all razing money for charity.

While I was there the Santa’s just kept came, running round the Bowing club then back onto the sea front; Santa’s as far as I could see, did I say hundreds; how about a thousand or two!!!

Mum was not happy again, she moaned and I tried to talk her up, with out any effect; but we kept at it until dinner time. It is good to see her, but like my Sister I feel there is little of Mum left; I hope there will a good visit next year – or is Mum passed all that.

Late in the afternoon I went for a walk through Gunwharf Quay, my aim was to photograph the Spinnaker Tower in it’s colours for Christmas, while waiting for the towers to be turned on I walked round the water front, watching the ferries.

And all so the site for Sir Ben Ainslie’s British America’s Cup team’s base, the building began this year, being close to the ferry terminus we shall see if power gives way to wind!

On my way home, Lombard Court, Lombard Street, Mum and Dad’s last home together.

By half four the Spinnaker Tower was with out lights, and it was starting to rain and the wind blowing up; I decided it was time to head to my Sister’s house. A few minutes after I had got there the Spinnaker Tower blossomed into colour; I settled for a shot from my Sisters kitchen windows.

The Long Longer Monday …..

My journey home was rather long, an hours wait at Westbury and no trains going to Penzance, so I have an extra stop at Plymouth with an half hour wait …. I finished my day with a bus to Perranporth, via St Agnes.

Southampton Port as the train heads west

The sea near to Dawlish, and well on the way to Cornwall.

Last updated December 17, 2014