I have arrived!

It took some doing, but I got here. Notes from last night:

Plane landed on time, but needs to taxi for another 10-15 minutes to the terminal. I'll miss the the 21:49 train to Groningen. Not too bad, one straight haul. And time for a cuppa and a ciggie beforehand.

Schiphol airport is big! Forgot that. Feels odd to be back. Feels odd to know that I get to fly back to England again, instead of landing and knowing I won't be going back to .uk for a while. Yay.

Got the 22:19. Only two more hours. Whee.

We reached Amersfoort and were told that this intercity could not keep going and is stopping here. Sod.

Anyone needing to go to Zwolle and beyond could get the slower train to Zwolle, leaving from platform 1 and then transfer in Zwolle. We arrived on platform 7. We've just ran all the way from 7 to 1. Train went 'beep'and drove off. Full platform. People milling about and grumbling. Next train to Groningen leaves at 23:38. It is 23:11 now. Arse.

Front of Amersfoort trainstation is dull. Time for a cigarette.

Just had a word with the NS people. There was a stabbing on the intercity I just came off of. Eep.

Train arrived, only reads 'Zwolle'. Odd. Sat on comfy seats again.

Were just told the train has no driver. What? The old one vanished into thin air? Waiting for another one, who is delayed. Expect a 20 minute delay. Oh for fuck's sake....

Driver has turned up. We're off! (Only about 5 minute delay.)

Called mum to let her know. She'll pick me up in Assen at 1:00.

Hmmm. Ticket man just jogged up and down the train. Asked us where we're going and do we need to go beyond Zwolle and rushed off again. Erm....meep?

This train does not go beyond Zwolle, as the last train from Zwolle has left at 23:50 because of railworks being performed further down the line. Arsebiscuits.

They going to arrange taxis or another train to get us home. Am now numb. I don't care anymore. As long as I get to Assen...

Ooooh! Train waiting for us in Zwolle.

Sitting down again on a really really full train. Has been stood here for 30-45 minutes. It was waiting for all the trains that had people travelling beyond Zwolle to come in.

Heh. Driver's just come on the intercom: 'Good evening people, we have now gathered our last stray sheep and we're off. We apologise for the delay.' Entire carriage has just gone 'Wahey!' and applauded. Knackered now. About an hour until Assen.

Assen is 5 minutes away. I'm not sure, but I think the driver broke some speed limits as this normally takes an hour and I've only been on the train 40 minutes or so.

--------

And then I sat and talked with mum for an hour or so before crashing. It was 3:30 when I got to bed. It's good to be here. There's a cat on the desk looking at me. We're about to start cooking and doing things for the wedding tomorrow. I'll be a bit busy, I think.

I have arrived!

It took some doing, but I got here. Notes from last night:

Plane landed on time, but needs to taxi for another 10-15 minutes to the terminal. I'll miss the the 21:49 train to Groningen. Not too bad, one straight haul. And time for a cuppa and a ciggie beforehand.

Schiphol airport is big! Forgot that. Feels odd to be back. Feels odd to know that I get to fly back to England again, instead of landing and knowing I won't be going back to .uk for a while. Yay.

Got the 22:19. Only two more hours. Whee.

We reached Amersfoort and were told that this intercity could not keep going and is stopping here. Sod.

Anyone needing to go to Zwolle and beyond could get the slower train to Zwolle, leaving from platform 1 and then transfer in Zwolle. We arrived on platform 7. We've just ran all the way from 7 to 1. Train went 'beep'and drove off. Full platform. People milling about and grumbling. Next train to Groningen leaves at 23:38. It is 23:11 now. Arse.

Front of Amersfoort trainstation is dull. Time for a cigarette.

Just had a word with the NS people. There was a stabbing on the intercity I just came off of. Eep.

Train arrived, only reads 'Zwolle'. Odd. Sat on comfy seats again.

Were just told the train has no driver. What? The old one vanished into thin air? Waiting for another one, who is delayed. Expect a 20 minute delay. Oh for fuck's sake....

Driver has turned up. We're off! (Only about 5 minute delay.)

Called mum to let her know. She'll pick me up in Assen at 1:00.

Hmmm. Ticket man just jogged up and down the train. Asked us where we're going and do we need to go beyond Zwolle and rushed off again. Erm....meep?

This train does not go beyond Zwolle, as the last train from Zwolle has left at 23:50 because of railworks being performed further down the line. Arsebiscuits.

They going to arrange taxis or another train to get us home. Am now numb. I don't care anymore. As long as I get to Assen...

Ooooh! Train waiting for us in Zwolle.

Sitting down again on a really really full train. Has been stood here for 30-45 minutes. It was waiting for all the trains that had people travelling beyond Zwolle to come in.

Heh. Driver's just come on the intercom: 'Good evening people, we have now gathered our last stray sheep and we're off. We apologise for the delay.' Entire carriage has just gone 'Wahey!' and applauded. Knackered now. About an hour until Assen.

Assen is 5 minutes away. I'm not sure, but I think the driver broke some speed limits as this normally takes an hour and I've only been on the train 40 minutes or so.

--------

And then I sat and talked with mum for an hour or so before crashing. It was 3:30 when I got to bed. It's good to be here. There's a cat on the desk looking at me. We're about to start cooking and doing things for the wedding tomorrow. I'll be a bit busy, I think.