What is in Kelvin's Head?

How to sleep on the sleeper

31/07/2012
Did I mention that I came back from London on the sleeper? It remains my favourite way of travelling back from south to north as you can catch it after a night at the theatre. (In this case Democracy at the Old Vic). Generally I prefer to fly down and sleeper back.

Here are my Caledonian Sleeper tips….
- Don’t believe the time that they advertise as when the sleeper will be ready for boarding. It is often later than that.
- Leaving a big city at midnight by train is inherently romantic.
- Being in Euston at 11.30 pm is inherently unromantic.
- For excitement, intrigue, value for money and frisson book a bargain berth and share with Who Knows Who.
- If sharing with an unknown companion who has not arrived when the train leaves, don’t presume anything. He could show up anytime, anywhere.
- For a better night’s sleep pay more and get a cabin to yourself.
- For no sleep at all, use the reclining seats. You will however, learn much about humanity.
- Don’t worry about sleeping – tell yourself that all you have to do is doze and you’ll probably fall asleep anyway.
- The more you pay, the better the breakfast in bed.
- Murmur in the steward’s ear as you get on that you’d prefer your breakfast to be served after everyone else if possible
- Beware of muddling the buttons that open the toilet compartment with the adjacent buttons which open the disabled cabin next door. (Especially at 4 am).
- Flipflops.
- Travelling North to South on certain tickets give you access to a lounge at Euston with free showers. No such luck coming the other way.
- If turfed off the sleeper at 7 am and going to work at 9 am, don’t go home and go to sleep. Go swimming instead.
- You can charge phones in the lounge car but not in your cabin.
- That little hook by your head is for putting your watch on, but don’t forget it in the morning.
- Take extra water.
- The first stop is Carlisle. The stop with all the shunting is Carstairs.
- Don’t go for a wander before Carstairs or your cabin might go to Glasgow whilst you go to Edinburgh.
- You might arrive going a different direction to the one you set off in. Don’t be confused, they’ve not turned you round and sent you back to London after all.
Any tips I missed?
Caledonian Sleeper, tips

6 responses to “10 10”

PamB

14/10/2010

Ahh, a pulley. I love my pulley – the authentic sound of the Scottish tenement is the screech of a laden pulley being hauled upwards. Connects me with my foremothers just like knitting with fore (sp. deliberate) needles does.
BTW, did you know that the Norwegian for vacuum cleaner is stoorsooker (sp. conjectural)

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David | Dahâ€¢veed

14/10/2010

So the condensing boiler, which I assume is to heat your home, also has instant hot water? Or how does that work?

We have an old 100 L tank-style water heater, but I have been thinking of getting one of the new Japanese instant tankless heaters. They only work with natural gas or LP.

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1. kelvin
  
  14/10/2010
  
  Yes – boiler uses gas, which is piped into the house, to heat water for radiators and (almost) instant hot water for taps too.
  
  I don’t know how it works. I’m just grateful.
  
  The graph above includes both gas and electricity.
  
  Reply
ryan

14/10/2010

Pulleys? I always assumed, perhaps unrealistically, that there’s some kind of centralised clerical dry cleaners, who take care of vestments, altar cloths,dog collars, liturgically-accurate black socks, etc etc 😉

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chris

14/10/2010

Remember to remove the clean clothes before you cook anything smelly! What about a wee rope outside? Hang the washing out?

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Zebadee

16/10/2010

Your grandmothers and great grandmothers had a pulley. Why has it taken you so long to realise the benifits? It will also help you with the keep fit programme

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