train 1 April 2008
I was reminded of my Dad while travelling today. He was always fond of ‘a gin and tonic at 80 mile per hour’. He was on his way Galway to Dublin one fine day when the girl sitting opposite (a stranger) got up and said she was off to the dining car and asked if he’d like anything. He replied ‘a gin and tonic’ thinking he’d hear no more about that, but when she came back she had it for him, and before he could reciprocate she got off. He loved to tell that story as both an example of how outrageous he was and how lovely this lassie. There are 2 dry days in Ireland when the pubs stay shut – Christmas Day and Good Friday – but The Daddy discovered that on the latter you could always get a drink in a station bar if you were in possession of a ticket to travel. He never took up on this particular offer but I think it was a comfort to him that in an emergency he could score a pint somewhere (he was always WELL stocked up for Christmas). Actually, it’s amazing how a thirst can manifest itself if you are told either you can’t have a drink or that there just isn’t any to be had.
