Bath Times

Team Rust has gone to Bath for a cultural and sporting trip.

Most of us are billeted in the Royal Crescent Hotel

The train journey illustrated the difference between various  networks.

Southern Rail – or Fail as we call it – had old dirty stock for the first leg from Brighton to Fratton.

There we changed to the much better GWR (Great Western Railway) whose standard class is superior to the First Class of Southern.

“Let the train take the strain`’ was the ad campaign when it was all British Rail.

No motorway delays because of road works or risk from incompetent motorists.

Read a book, mag or – in the case of one youth – listen to your mobile at full blast. If there was ever a sign of the times it must be the mobile. Those who use  it interminably must wonder how we managed before its invention, but manage we did.

Gosh – we actually talked to one another.

On the train you can admire the countryside, which is particularly impressive between Salisbury and Bath.

Daphne Colthard holds lot of store by greeting.

The one at the Royal Crescent passed all her tests.

A receptionist greeted us in the lounge, showed me to my room – which bore my name outside – and inside was a bowl of fruit and handmade chocolates.

The room looked over the garden in the back where the restaurant is situated. I was tempted to stroll around Bath in clear afternoon sunlight but even more to let the rays permeate the room where the radio was playing classical music and nod off.

I will let Daffers cover the dinner but I certainly enjoyed the tasting menu.

The Royal Crescent is impressive and expensive. Yet the rail fare is only £38.

With air travel still testing in every aspect, a couple of days at the Royal Crescent makes sense and Daffers soon spotted a young couple enjoying themselves over dinner.

So were we.