Thursday 25 October 2012

First class travel - just the ticket!


Please don't take any notice of Gail, if she starts trying to tell you that I "acted up" a bit on the train home to Aberdeen on Monday.

My terrier friends at least will surely understand that when one has been on VERY best behaviour for six days at the Human Grandparents house, and not put a paw wrong the whole time, then one is entitled to a period of 'exuberance' when one departs, and if that exuberant phase coincides with a seven hour train journey, well so be it...

For some reason (the words "too stressful" are being bandied about here) Gail failed to take any photos of me enjoying First Class hospitality on the East Coast train from Newark to Edinburgh, and also on the later one from Edinburgh to Aberdeen. All this despite the fact that she later described as "quite a picture" the face of one of my fellow passengers, a smartly suited but rather humourless businessman, when I tried to strike up a conversation with him somewhere around Berwick-upon-Tweed.

I can however show you a copy of my ticket for the train. Well, OK, strictly speaking it's Gail's ticket, as railway travel in the UK is free for dogs.


So my British readers will be relieved to see that Gail and I do not indulge in any sneaking onto the train and trying to travel First Class on a Standard Class ticket behaviour, unlike certain senior politicians - yes we do mean you Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.

Between trains I was allowed a run around Calton Hill in Edinburgh. I love the fact that Edinburgh has these open  and Bertie-friendly spaces right in the heart of the city.



Sadly we did not have time to meet my wiry pal Horatio, but I did at least get to show a Japanese tourist how to "pose nicely now" for the camera.

21 comments:

  1. Your pictures are so lovely and inviting. I wish I were there with you romping around. I am not surprised that you had some fun on the train. I think I would have been bored to tears and done the same. I hope it was a nice ride.

    Loveys Sasha

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  2. I love your pics! That cannon is pretty amazing. We would never think you snuck on!

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  3. Oh Bertie your pics are great and anyone who does not want to be greeted by you is definitely humorless and you are much better without them. In the US dogs must be in carriers on trains, what nonsense righ?. There has been a push to change the law but I dont see it happening.

    I also love that one of your senior politicians tried to ride 1st class on a 2nd classs ticket, that very scenario is mentioned in an episode of the TV series Jeeves and Wooster, minus the senior polotician bit

    urban hounds

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  4. BOL you didn't try to do an Osbourne. We like your lessons on how to pose for the tourists. Have a terrific Thursday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  5. We bet you were the life of First Class.

    What a wonderful place Edinburgh must be....lots of places to run around.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  6. lovely photos! shame on that man not wanting to speak to you on the train x

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  7. We are still just flabbergasted that you get to ride on the train system there! We just think that is totally pawsome Bertie.

    I'm sorry that the businessman didn't enjoy speaking with you. That is HIS loss! I wouldn't give it second thought.

    It will be nice to be home Bertie.

    Hugs,
    Lily Belle & Muffin

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  8. Really, you ride free, how good is that, you can go anywhere. Like the little break in the country side, did you shoot the cannon off!

    Your Furiends
    Susie & Bites

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  9. Bertie - Are you sure the sour faced man wasn't the Chancellor ?

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  10. Bewtie
    I totally undewstand..of couwse, being fwom NewYawk owiginally, I got a little confoosed pictoowing you and Gail taking the twain fwom Newawk(which I always thought was in NewJewsey) all the way to Edinbuwgh, but then I figoowed out that youw Newawk was somewhewe closew, but I di gwess. I think gwumpy men should be banned fwom twains
    smoochie kisses
    ASTA

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  11. Bertie,

    The term "too stressful" could only apply if you had eaten Gail's 1st class ticket before she got onto the train!

    What you did was to succesfully occupy Gail's attention so her mind could not wander to other thoughts, and that skill should be rewarded with extra treats.

    Woofs,
    Riley

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  12. Horatio is in a major huff with me as I didn't organise a rendez vous with you :-(
    I've abandoned my boys as I'm in Portugal this week with work. A trip up Carlton hill with Bertie would be preferable. Although I must admit p'gal has an amazing coast which I didn't really expect.

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  13. you lucky dog. we don't think we are allowed any where near a train
    Benny & Lily

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  14. I'm so jelly that dawgs are allowed on trains in the first place..... let alone in First Class! I'm not sure but if I tried train travel, I'd be shoved in a box in a cargo hold somewhere. Hence - we travel by car.

    I'm sure you acted terrifically on the train - and I'm sure that businessman would have loved your stories too.

    Tail Wuggles, Rubie xxx

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  15. Bertie, we are amazed that you are lucky enough to travel on trains. Funny isn't it how some people just don't want to chat especially with such a jolly fellow as yourself. Makes you feel like leaving him a little pee mail hehehe. I don't know if we told you but our sissy worked in Edinburgh when she was overseas. Take care. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory

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  16. I think you've done terribly well mate. I've never been on a train...maybe one day. In the meantime I'm building myself up to it in pubs...! Deccy x

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  17. I don't see what's wrong with introducing yourself to a man on the train.

    He should have been honoured.

    I've never been on a train either but I think I would enjoy looking out of the window if they let me.

    Edinburgh looks lovely.

    Love and licks, Winnie

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  18. What's a train? We've never seen one, much less been invited to ride upon one....do they bring you light refreshments?

    We think you did pawfectly for a naughty dog who had been on sparkling behavior all week!!

    XXOOO Miss lacie

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  19. We're sure you were a perfect gentledog on the trip home and Gail was just super sensitive and maybe a little tired from all the worry about HGD. And dog, we know from personal experience a tired mama is a cranky mama. We're sure you were a great comfort to HGD while you were with him.

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  20. First class travel? Well, what else for a special doggie like you? BTW, I've been on Google earth so much - in particular visiting Edinburgh. I just love the castle and the walk along the river (Have been there in real life...and many times on Google earth) :)

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  21. Oh Bertie, I find it hard to imagine that you were anything other than a charming travel companion. Perhaps your conversation was just a bit too refined for your fellow travelers.

    Kisses,
    Dexter

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