I was up bright and early as I had to catch a train to East Croydon for my big day out today! I walked to the bus stop, only five minutes away, and caught a bis to the station in plenty of time.
I walked up to where the front of the train would be so I could use the small First Class area. I had bought a First Class Britrail pass so I could make sure of getting a seat (with my shoulder issue) and so that it would be a bit quieter, ha ha!
As we were boarding, two guys pushed in front of the lady in front of me so they could get the seats they wanted. They talked loudly and continuously as we travelled along. Then one of them said that he did not have a first Class ticket and neither did his friend.
A wee bit later his friend asked what the difference between first class and standard was, the lady who was sitting opposite me and I both said cost. He asked again and we repeated ourselves.
He then said, that this was obviously the area for "old dykes". I am not sure what the other fellows in the area thought but I saw red and told him not to be so rude. He repeated himself!! The two of them continued to talk loudly.
A wee bit later his friend asked what the difference between first class and standard was, the lady who was sitting opposite me and I both said cost. He asked again and we repeated ourselves.
He then said, that this was obviously the area for "old dykes". I am not sure what the other fellows in the area thought but I saw red and told him not to be so rude. He repeated himself!! The two of them continued to talk loudly.
Then the train supervisor, Sarah, came along and asked if we all had First Class tickets, I pointed out that the two guys did not and she asked them to move. 
One of them said there were no seats anywhere else when they got on, what a porky, lol!! He was also very aggresive and rude to me as he got up to move, not worth repeating!!
Funny, after all the travel in the US and other countries I had to come back to my home area in the UK to meet such abuse, very sad!!
Sarah told us that she suffers all sorts of abuse including being spat at!! It is certainly not a good advertisement for the UK!! However, I did not let it spoil my day out!!
Along the way we stopped at Gatwick Airport, where Air NZ used to arrive and depart from way back when!! It was cloudy and cool when I arrived at East Croydon station.
I went to the exit and eventually texted Pauline to ask where she was. She then walked over to me, lol!! We were going to her daughter Paula's house for lunch so Paula's husband Max was picking us up. We did not have to wait too long and we were soon at the house.
It was such a wonderful day, meeting Pauline, it felt so right and comfortable as if we had known each other F2F for years. The same can be said for her daughter Paula, a delightfully vivacious lady, who also loves to travel, I just missed her and her husband in Napier earlier in the year.
I was very lucky to receive gifts from Pauline of some of her beautiful glass art, a cat, robin and heart. I will take photos as soon as I unpack them again! I also had a few gifts for them!
She made us a delicious lunch, we continued to chat, had lots of laughs and drank tea. Paula showed us some old magazines that had been used under the carpet in their bedroom. Two of them went back to 1953, lol, what a walk down memory lane!
We also took a few photos out in the garden, it was a bit warmer by then. I could have stayed all day but all good things must come to an end! I knew I had to be on a train before 5 pm to avoid the rush hour, lol! Pauline and I have called each other "sisters" for a few years, it has always felt like that for both of us, so I told Paula she was my new niece, lol!
We also took a few photos out in the garden, it was a bit warmer by then. I could have stayed all day but all good things must come to an end! I knew I had to be on a train before 5 pm to avoid the rush hour, lol! Pauline and I have called each other "sisters" for a few years, it has always felt like that for both of us, so I told Paula she was my new niece, lol!
Paula drove Pauline and I back to the station as we were catching trains! Fortunately we were on platforms next to each other. We farewelled each other when Pauline’s train came in!
I arrived back at my hotel and reflected on what a wonderful time I had experienced, I just hope I can make it back again!
Thursday
The sun was shining brightly when I woke up on my last day in Eastbourne but it soon disappeared behind some cloud. After breakfast I wandered out to find the Post Office that showed up on Google Maps, i had some items to post, but big joke it has not been there for a few years!! I brough a few items at the Tesco Express and then headed back to my hotel. I stopped and enjoyed a lovely coffee on the way back!
I dropped my shopping off then went downstairs as the hotel did have stamps, the nice fellow in reception did a rough weigh for me and put two stamps on each item. When I asked him, how much, he said they were free, wow, what service!! Then I asked where the nearest place to post them was, he thought and then said, "leave it to me" - faith in humanity somewhat restored!!
I had some jobs to do, the Blog, some emails to send and I also had to book assistance to Surbiton for tomorrow where I go to meet my second cousin Wendy. I was told to ring this afternoon as the SW railway strike will be underway tomorrow and the temporary train timetable will be out! I had found the timetable and had worked out the times correctly, phew! I must say the people who I have dealt with have always been so pleasant and this afternoon it was no different!
I started my packing and it did not take long, I am fairly well practised these days, only the last few things to be packed in the morning, lol! I then went down to the pool and exercised my shoulders again!
After a lovely hot shower, it was time to settle in for the evening!!
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