So, today was my journey to Watford, and it can be noted from the date and time on this entry that it is currently 21:26 (although it will be later by the time I finish typing). I was supposed to be in Watford at 18:59, but I'm actually on a Virgin train just south of Stafford (no internet access though, so I'll have to upload this later - incidentally, what happened to Wi-Fi on trains that we were told was "just around the corner"?)!

So, my journey should have been as follows:

Attenborough Depart 15:47, bus replacement service
Long Eaton Arrive 15:58, Depart 16:25
Leicester Arrive 16:48, Depart 16:55, bus replacement service
Nuneaton Arrive 17:35, Depart 17:43
Watford Junction Arrive 18:59

We decided to skip the bus replacement service from Attenborough, and just went straight to Long Eaton (still bought ticket from Attenborough for return leg on Friday). The train from Long Eaton was cancelled! Not that anyone at the station waiting for it was told this of course, I had to call National Rail Enquiries to ask what was going on. Eventually I was given an alternative set of connections, going first to Derby, then Stoke-on-Trent, and then on to Watford. This, although the train to Derby only left an hour after my train to Leicester should have, resulted in an arrival time in Watford two hours later, 21:00 (give or take a minute).

Of course, it's not that simple is it? The Derby - Stoke train was delayed, which meant I missed the train from Stoke by FIVE MINUTES! The next train (that I'm now on) was two hours later, and I should now arrive in Watford at around 23:00. Now, the journey from our house to Hils & Caz's place takes two hours if the traffic's bad, this journey will have taken me nearly eight! And that's assuming that there are no further hitches or delays between here and Watford. Oh yes, and there's no air-con in this carriage, and you can't open the windows, so I'm hot, and the air's getting unbreathable...

So, I hate public transport, and I'll be lodging a complaint.