Embracing Senior Status
You might be getting bored of the
sexagenarian musings presented in my recent blogs. Well, this is about my own
experience and how I am settling into this new age.
I wrote about getting the Senior
Railcard yesterday, which offers a 33% discount on train fares in the UK. My
plan was to find out the real-life experience of showing my ticket to a train
conductor and being asked to produce the railcard that gave me the entitlement.
A Lazy Christmas Eve
However, Christmas Eve started as a
rather lazy day. By the time I finally got out of bed and boarded a train to
Liverpool, it was well into the afternoon. My Senior Railcard secured me a
34.29% discount on the day return ticket.
There was no ticket inspection on
either my outward or return journey, though I spent about 90 minutes in
Liverpool, walking through the Christmas markets to the Central Library, where
I did a bit of study until the building closed early at 4:30 PM.
On the Christmas markets, like the one
in Manchester, they are a poor imitation of the German ones: full of tat and
gaudy overpriced goods. Whilst they might afford summery activities on a
helter-skelter, a roller coaster, and a Ferris wheel, they might attract
crowds, giving winter days a sense of liveliness, but they are at best
eyesores. Frankly, one is not impressed.
Rail Service Disappointments
I did find that some long train
journeys were cancelled, with the reason given that there was a lack of train
crew. It makes you wonder who is in charge of personnel rotas and scheduling.
The train conductors might already have bonked off, earning themselves a
five-day Christmas weekend.
Public transport facilities will be
closed for Christmas and Boxing Day in the UK. I might get on a train before
the year ends, just for the pleasure of being officially recognised as a senior
citizen. It feels strange, but that's the truth.