On the right side of the tracks

The girls have never been on a train before, other than the small ones at Perrygrove, in the Forest of Dean. Marlane, who has been struck down by the dreaded Lurgy, suggested I take them on a train to somewhere local, just for the fun and experience of it.
I decided I'd start them off small, Gloucester to Stroud which included a drop-off and pick-up of passengers at Stonehouse. Ticket was off-peak and I only needed a ticket for me, children under 5 travel free on the trains in the UK. The train was the Great Western Railway, Cheltenham to London Paddington (calling at Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud, Kemble, Swindon, Didcot Parkway, Reading and Paddington).
Leaving the house, with very little time to spare, Sister-in-Law Sonia said she couldn't get the wireless headphones to work for my F.M.i.L. Betty. I said I was in a tearing rush and quickly ascertained the sound was coming out of the TV - Aha! "You'll find an audio connector, bung it in the hole just by where the arial is plugged in.
Off we went, trouble getting the seat belts buckled due to the coats - a case of "more haste less speed" I think.
Got to Gloucester station car park, clock rapidly ticking away, and I was confronted with yet a different type of payment meter which didn't seem to care how much I followed the instructions it just didn't want to let me park. I think I got somewhere with it and thought, what the hell, and off we went.
Carried Isabella, held Harriets hand, in to the station and the ladies on the barrier were really helpful. I showed the ticket and they told me which platform to go to. I picked them both up (twins, not the barrier ladies) and walked rapidly towards the train. We were about 30 yards away when one of the guards Waved a stick at the driver, jumped in, and the train pulled away. Missed by seconds.
It was an hour to wait for the next one so we went into the cafe. The girls wanted a Fanta (I didn't remember they are not allowed fizzy drinks!), one of which was promptly knocked over. The lady behind the counter kindly came straight away and mopped it up.
After a while we decided to go out onto the platform. Picking up Bella I turned and her shoe knocked over one of the cups the lady had given us! My fault this time.
We were having a lot of fun, chasing after a pigeon and making funny noises to make each other laugh, so I missed the announcement. Luckily one perceptive station staff asked if we were travelling on the London train. The announcement was about a change to platform so I had to pick up both girls and climb the steps up to the bridge, across the tracks and down the other side.
All was well though and we got on the train, this one was an hour later than our scheduled train.
Off we went and from then on it was just laughs and fun, the girls loved it.
We had a wait of about 40 minutes in Stroud so just wandered around (no cafe) and got the train back to Gloucester.
So all in all a day of disasters, mishaps and lots of fun.
There was a missed Blip oppurtunity while we were in the car park. One of the B52 USAF Bombers, based at RAF Fairford, passed over Gloucester VERY low. However, the fact I missed it is neither here nor there, I know you'd rather see the twins.  :-)