I think I’ve generally been sympathetic to the rail strike, even though it has affected me several times during sojourns to the capital and beyond.
Today I am more than just pissed off with the RNT union leader Mick Lynch for adding one more strike day to the days already earmarked at the end of May and early June for strike action .Now he has effectively cancelled our Les Miserables trip planned on June 1st.
Now I can claim back the rail tickets for nothing and move the theatre tickets for a small fee, but we’ve lost our booking for the hotel, which was a difficult book anyway as cheaper hotel rooms in the capital early June were just not to be had.
I’ve booked them via credit card so may be able to get my money back …..but that’s not the point.
I get to go to London a lot, my sister much less so.
And the one time she gets to have a treat
It’s bloody cancelled
Wow. I would be frustrated too. Is it possible to drive there and take a bus into the city?
ReplyDeleteBuses to London are a nightmare
DeleteToo late now, but maybe for next time, I'd have driven to the farthest out tube station and taken the tube in, unless the tube is on strike too?
DeleteOutrageous and I hope there is a way around this disappointment.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
A lot of workers look at them and simply dream of earning £65,000 pa. Another 30% on top looks like 'greed'.
ReplyDeleteOh, bugger! Another trip cancelled - not your year for travel, John. xx
ReplyDeleteJust had a thought, John. How about National Express? If you don't mind coach travel. It takes longer of course but it's much cheaper than the trains. xx
DeleteJohn, what about going down a day early - even if you stay somewhere outside London for the night?
ReplyDeleteWouldn’t work , we are staying over June first and the whole of June 2 nd and 3 rd are strike days
DeleteOh BOTHER. That really is The Pitts. Two more night's accommodation would be very expensive. Could you hire a car to get you home? I suppose you've thought of all those possibilities. I'm sad for you both.
DeleteStrikes can be very inconvenient, which I suspect is the point.
ReplyDeleteThat's awful! So sorry you, and especially your sister, will lose out like this to a very special occasion.
ReplyDeleteI have deliberately tried not to attempt any rail travel while all this is going on but have had a lot of problems through a legal document going missing in transit during the postal strike and had huge trouble because of it.
The junior doctor and nurses strike is the most frightening for me.
So sorry John. What an enormous pain this is.
ReplyDeleteThat sucks.
ReplyDeleteThe Tory government have got a lot to answer for for causing such widespread disenchantment.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting remarkably sick of the chaos due to strikes and overtime bans on our railways.
ReplyDeleteOur son had to go to Manchester for work on both Monday and Wednesday this week. On both days, his trains were either cancelled, running late, or full to bursting point due to the previous trains being cancelled.
On Monday he had to stand for the entire journey from Lime Street to Manchester, and again on the return journey. Wednesday was a good day, he had to stand for the whole journey in the morning, but on the return trip, he actually managed to get a seat from Newton le Willows, seats are very much a luxury at times!
He'd drive to Manchester, but the roads around Spinningfields are dreadful, and parking charges are beyond ridiculous!
There's no point in trying to encourage people to use public transport when it's so unreliable.
Well pooo!
ReplyDeleteI do think it is a bit meano f them to choose days when so many folk are looking forward to their special treat - like the Cup Final etc.
ReplyDeleteHave you considered flying?
ReplyDeleteWhy is the government messing with Janet and your birthday? You seem to have very bad luck with travel plans. I hope you can do it another time, and that all those strikes get settled soon. GG
ReplyDeleteAs wonderful as all the benefits of unions and their trickle down to the public at large have been over the decades are the strikes that happen when two very hard headed groups get together to negotiate can be and are very frustating. They negotiate without any reguard to the impact on the public at large. One side wants the public outcry to be heard and the other side wants the problems caused to hopefuly provoke the Unions to give in. Sorry that it is such a mess. Here, in the US, the President would step up and get involved to settle things. One of the true powers the President has.
ReplyDeleteThat's the unfortunate thing about these strikes -- at the end of the day, they just punish everyday people. I suppose we're supposed to exert pressure on the powers that be to settle these issues, but honestly, that's not what happens. We just limp from strike to strike with everyone being made miserable.
ReplyDeleteI've always been of the opinion that strikes benefit no-one. It ups resentment on both sides, making discussion harder. Innocent people are caught in the fall-out through lack of services or supply of goods, and some strikers find that, actually, the work carries on without them after all, resulting in more job losses.
ReplyDeleteCan someone drive you? Or is it too late now because you have already cancelled it all?
ReplyDeleteits all been changed ....we will go again x
DeleteOh dear your jaunt out cancelled.
ReplyDeleteSome people are having life saving operations and treatment cancelled because of strikes by medical staff. You've had to cancel a jaunt to London - poor you.
Snideness is a telling emotion .Your comment has a sense of envy and bitterness about it.
DeleteToday's blog entry is about a day to day disapointment and doesnt need to be anything else.
Your angelic son would be ashamed
Anon 2 how do you know Anon 1 has a sn?
DeleteSon
DeleteNot to mention John cares for people in dire medical situations. Sheesh, he is deserving of having a nice time. I guess anon never complains about anything. They must be a pleasure to be around.
Deleteoh linda dont worry,, i was more upset for janet who hardly visits the capital
DeleteCheer yourself up by donating the cost of the trip to a worthy cause.
ReplyDeleteim not that altruistic lol
Delete£127 is the cost of a flight from Manchester to London, you can park at mine if that helps. I don't know how to direct message you or I would have done so.
ReplyDeleteyes i did consider that but ive already changed the tickets now to another time thank you though
DeleteYour welcome .
DeleteEveryone in our family parks at our house and gets a lift to the airport. We are the ones who end up paying for a taxi cos no one takes us lol
Hope Albert is ok .
He’s ok today, I bought him salmon chunks as a treat
Delete