Big Bertha’s day out

The last time I went to London on my own to meet up with friends was in Feb ‘20. My cardiac surgery in July of that year and the pandemic restrictions put a stop to my gallivanting about, but today was the opportunity to give it a go. 

The train journey from Uttoxeter is easier than from Saxilby, takes less time and is cheaper!!! The potential problem today was cancelled trains due to drivers not working on their rest days. Just in case I ran into trouble and couldn’t get home I took my Union Jack Club membership card as my place of safety. 

The 3 ladies that I met today were colleagues in the NHS who I have known for 30 plus years. We haven’t seen one another since last November, so there was lots of catching up to do. We had a superb lunch at Albertini’s a few minutes walk from St Pancras.  First visit for all of us and we will certainly be back as it was delicious and so relaxing.

It was good to see old haunts and talk about memories that we share. I’ve added a few pics in extras. 

The train from Derby to London was absolutely heaving as the earlier one was cancelled, but the return train was quiet. It left at about 4pm, unusual to get a cheap fare at that time of day. I used to have to wait at Kings Cross until after 7pm to get back to Lincolnshire making it a long day, which I wouldn’t be able to cope with these days. I was back home before 7, magic!! 

I didn’t expect to be doing these things when I was recovering with Big Bertha, my new Aortic arch, in the early days.