I have to guess that shilly-shallying is similar to the American dilly-dallying. Having experienced a fair new number of transport options in the last few days, will be eager to explore all London modes shortly, and hoping to soon forget our plane rides.
I suspect so, if perhaps even slower as most things tend to be. My advice for London transport; only ever take the bus if you're not in a huge rush, and always pack enough entertainment for any delays (though as the steward of a small child I'm sure you're already on this).
https://www.thegreengrocers.co.uk/ is a highly recommended place for breakfast in Norwich. I’ve not been but daughter’s friend says it’s her favourite breakfast place ever! Will depend on where you are staying though as it’s not in the centre but not very far away. ‘Bread source’ is a great bakery for pastries but can’t remember if they do a full breakfast. There are several branches but I think Bridewell alley would be the best option or upper St Giles street if you’re staying on that side of the centre. I’m also in Norwich on Saturday but visiting an ill friend so not free to come to Beccles unfortunately.
thank you this is very helpful - not sure where we're staying as yet (no doubt depends on Wilf) but will bookmark these. Hope your friend rallies; having a visit is always good for the spirits.
The Britons Arms on Elm Hill does good food and is a lovely historic building in one of the prettiest area of the city. Open from 9am on Sunday. https://www.britonsarms.com/
This reminded me of my childhood travels to Ireland to see my grandmother, also via train to Holyhead, in the late 1950s/early 1960s. It's slower, but oh, the adventure of it!
Love your story! It reminded me of missing a ferry from Fishguard to Rosslaire by 5 minutes, because we’d filled a petrol car with diesel in a panic after incorrectly believing that we were going the following day with our chums for the New Year. Next morning, we collected the car from the Citroen Clinic and drove like Hamilton to catch the midday ferry. Fishguard, on the 30th December is quiet. Fishguard on 30th December in a storm, is desolate. We killed 4 hours of a 12 hour wait in a Chinese restaurant. But the genuine warmth of the hospitality, the magnificence of the scenery and the joy of sharing it all with close friends, made our trip to Bantry Bay memorable forever.
oh golly - thank God you had a car to sit in though!! Also enjoying imagining you stretching out dinner in a small Chinese restaurant to four hours; you must have had quite the banquet!
The principled stands that you take are admirable and inspiring; your cheerful reaction to adversity should be bottled and sold and great profit so Wilf can hire someone solely to scratch him whenever and wherever it pleases him.
I'm weighing up a train trip from London to Como or the alternative, which is a Ryanair flight that costs as much as the train I'm currently on from Cambridge to London. Whether my romantic ideas will win out against my accountants voice in my head is still to be seen.
plus, I have never felt moved to write about a flight. They're just fundamentally dull (and when they're not dull, they're too traumatising to discuss)
Having in the last week been wedged into a window seat for 14hours with two snoring Scots asleep, heads against the screen (a new definition of claustrophobia) I understand this all too well.
Funnily enough I was talking to my 18yo second cousin about Eurail on Sunday. It didn't occur to me to get one myself.
ah well - as Mark D observed to me, it does usually cost more, and one has to accept this (tho not always once you add in all the costs involved in getting to and from budget airports, accommodation etc, as Emily Chappell explained in her latest substack) as the cost of having a much more interesting experience BUT more helpfully, have you looked into Eurail passes? They're amazing and make everything much cheaper, as do French rail passes (tho the latter only helpful if you're doing a lot of SNCF travel in a year).
I hadn't thought about those additional costs. Will give Emily's piece a read. Also, as I said to Mr Diacono, I am very much looking forward to the Murano Book Club. Have wanted to attend but 9000 miles is a long way.
Look at https://www.seat61.com/ if you haven’t already, he is brilliant on trains. Trenitialia’s Frecciarossa high speed train is fantastic - do price business class seats as they are laughably cheap compared to UK business class!
hahah - I was in the South (also I can buy northern taytos in my local Sainsbury's - tho I don't think either is as cheesy as Walkers, and I do like a cheesy crisp)
Am currently in Edinburgh enjoying cheese and Tayto scone at new NI bakery Gorse....like stuffing a croissant, cheese and crisps in your mouth all at once....but in a good way!
Pleased to have had a small hand in your discomfort
I knew that would please you. Never think you're too small to make a difference
Between me and chips you were always in trouble
I have to guess that shilly-shallying is similar to the American dilly-dallying. Having experienced a fair new number of transport options in the last few days, will be eager to explore all London modes shortly, and hoping to soon forget our plane rides.
I suspect so, if perhaps even slower as most things tend to be. My advice for London transport; only ever take the bus if you're not in a huge rush, and always pack enough entertainment for any delays (though as the steward of a small child I'm sure you're already on this).
We have dilly-dallying as well as shilly-shallying in England- here's the Music Hall song, 'My Old Man Said Follow The Van' for more info - https://youtu.be/khJbffN2yGI?si=08tASmjX0NMooUrM 😉
Norwich recommendations:
https://www.thegreengrocers.co.uk/ is a highly recommended place for breakfast in Norwich. I’ve not been but daughter’s friend says it’s her favourite breakfast place ever! Will depend on where you are staying though as it’s not in the centre but not very far away. ‘Bread source’ is a great bakery for pastries but can’t remember if they do a full breakfast. There are several branches but I think Bridewell alley would be the best option or upper St Giles street if you’re staying on that side of the centre. I’m also in Norwich on Saturday but visiting an ill friend so not free to come to Beccles unfortunately.
thank you this is very helpful - not sure where we're staying as yet (no doubt depends on Wilf) but will bookmark these. Hope your friend rallies; having a visit is always good for the spirits.
The Britons Arms on Elm Hill does good food and is a lovely historic building in one of the prettiest area of the city. Open from 9am on Sunday. https://www.britonsarms.com/
This reminded me of my childhood travels to Ireland to see my grandmother, also via train to Holyhead, in the late 1950s/early 1960s. It's slower, but oh, the adventure of it!
I bet that was far more romantic! though all life is still on that ferry...
Love your story! It reminded me of missing a ferry from Fishguard to Rosslaire by 5 minutes, because we’d filled a petrol car with diesel in a panic after incorrectly believing that we were going the following day with our chums for the New Year. Next morning, we collected the car from the Citroen Clinic and drove like Hamilton to catch the midday ferry. Fishguard, on the 30th December is quiet. Fishguard on 30th December in a storm, is desolate. We killed 4 hours of a 12 hour wait in a Chinese restaurant. But the genuine warmth of the hospitality, the magnificence of the scenery and the joy of sharing it all with close friends, made our trip to Bantry Bay memorable forever.
oh golly - thank God you had a car to sit in though!! Also enjoying imagining you stretching out dinner in a small Chinese restaurant to four hours; you must have had quite the banquet!
The Canadian lawyer is right about the toasties at Grogan’s, a must next time you come to Dublin!
I so glad you made that epic journey. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you and introduce you to Mikados!
The principled stands that you take are admirable and inspiring; your cheerful reaction to adversity should be bottled and sold and great profit so Wilf can hire someone solely to scratch him whenever and wherever it pleases him.
I'm weighing up a train trip from London to Como or the alternative, which is a Ryanair flight that costs as much as the train I'm currently on from Cambridge to London. Whether my romantic ideas will win out against my accountants voice in my head is still to be seen.
plus, I have never felt moved to write about a flight. They're just fundamentally dull (and when they're not dull, they're too traumatising to discuss)
Having in the last week been wedged into a window seat for 14hours with two snoring Scots asleep, heads against the screen (a new definition of claustrophobia) I understand this all too well.
Funnily enough I was talking to my 18yo second cousin about Eurail on Sunday. It didn't occur to me to get one myself.
ah well - as Mark D observed to me, it does usually cost more, and one has to accept this (tho not always once you add in all the costs involved in getting to and from budget airports, accommodation etc, as Emily Chappell explained in her latest substack) as the cost of having a much more interesting experience BUT more helpfully, have you looked into Eurail passes? They're amazing and make everything much cheaper, as do French rail passes (tho the latter only helpful if you're doing a lot of SNCF travel in a year).
I hadn't thought about those additional costs. Will give Emily's piece a read. Also, as I said to Mr Diacono, I am very much looking forward to the Murano Book Club. Have wanted to attend but 9000 miles is a long way.
Look at https://www.seat61.com/ if you haven’t already, he is brilliant on trains. Trenitialia’s Frecciarossa high speed train is fantastic - do price business class seats as they are laughably cheap compared to UK business class!
I absolutely will do. It looks like between yourself and Felicity the budget airlines will not be getting my money.
Ballymalloe is wonderful. But southern Tayto? Oh you poor benighted soul! A crisp sandwich with Northern Tayto is a path to heaven!
hahah - I was in the South (also I can buy northern taytos in my local Sainsbury's - tho I don't think either is as cheesy as Walkers, and I do like a cheesy crisp)
Am currently in Edinburgh enjoying cheese and Tayto scone at new NI bakery Gorse....like stuffing a croissant, cheese and crisps in your mouth all at once....but in a good way!
BOOKMARKED! Sounds delicious