Sir John Betjeman at St Pancras

Travelled home today.  Left Becky's house at 10.40 am to walk to Wivelsfield Staion - took me around half an hour.  Then caught the Thameslink train to St Pancras.  When I got there I had around 35 mins before before my train to Newcastle left - time to get a shot of the John Betjeman statue which can be found on the upper concourse of St Pancras Station near the Eurostar Terminus.

National treasure John Betjeman was poet laureate from 1972 until his death in 1984. He wrote prose and poetry on all sorts of subjects that took his fancy, but especially aspects of London. He campaigned again and again to save threatened Victorian landmarks mostly during the 1960s.  - St Pancras station could have been demolished had it not been for his efforts. This statue was unveiled in 2007.

This shot is my entry for Wide Wednesday hosted by BobsBlips - the theme today is " Travel ".

Musical link --- actually its a poem today - A SHROPSHIRE LAD by John Betjeman

While I was on the upper concourse I also took a shot of the other statue there - The Meeting Place. This statue shows an embracing couple being reunited  under the clock at the railway station  - a universally recognised symbol of travel

After getting my photos I crossed the road to Kings Cross station to catch the 1pm train to Newcastle.  I was in First Class so food was provided.  I had Summer Chicken casserole, a packet of crisps and a treacle muffin.  First  Class was full today so the staff were very busy.  Journey north was trouble free and I reached Newcastle around 3.50pm.

Arrived home around 4.50pm.  Unpacked and put a load of washing on.  Fed the cats, did the litter trays and got into my PJ's ready to flop down on the sofa and enjoy a quiet night in.

However .... at 6pm the phone rang.  It was my brother John.  His daughter Sharon, son in law Kyle and their little lad Mason are over from Australia ( they don't come often and most of the family have never met Mason ) and tonight they were having a big family gathering.  It had to be tonight as a lot of family members weren't free on Thursday or Friday.  So John had arranged for my cousins Arthur and Philip to collect me at 7pm. Short notice or what.

So I had an hour to hang the washing up, wash my hair and get ready.  To tell the truth I would quite happily have said no if it had been anything other than seeing the trio from Oz.

I did have a lovely time. So many people there - mostly my sister in laws family but I do know a lot of them so it was good to catch up.  Great to see little Mason too.  I had bought him a Newcastle United T Shirt and shorts set and he wore them for a while so photos could be taken.  I took some shots on my phone so I will add a collage.

I got home around 10.30pm - sat on the sofa and fell asleep.  Which is why I'm posting this blip at 4.50am.  Hopefully I will get back to a proper routine in the next few days. 

I have added another Extra of Baxter and his new friend - a Teddy Bear I knitted for Becky before she was born - so its over 37 years old.  Its badly knitted and stuffed with cut up tights ( probably American Tan shade ) but its rather lovable.  So glad Becky treasures it still.

Steps today - 11,156