9 days and counting

So just 9 days to go, this time next week we'll be packing ready to leave for London just after mid-day. Our son and his girlfriend are travelling with us in our car as this time we're driving down. Our daughter who lives in Cardiff is meeting us there; her journey is by National Express as the train was quite expensive.

Talking of trains I 'd like to use today's post to say a really big THANK YOU to Virgin Trains. This time last year I contacted them and asked if they would be able to give me a set price ticket for each of our journeys.

One of the main problems or me with MS is fatigue - yes I know looking at my wine/travel blog Aimetu's, my Facebook and Twitter we always seem so busy, but I only post the good stuff not the details of some days it's nearly mid-day before I get dressed or how I'm asleep on the sofa mid afternoon or most of an evening.


That being said I knew sometimes we'd miss the best fare on the train as it would be quite close to the weekend before I would know for sure if we could go.

Sadly Virgin Trains couldn't offer that .... but to my astonishment they offered Hubby and me free travel for each trip.

I was really surprised and did explain it would be 8 journeys but they still said yes.

I was even more shocked when each journey ticket we requested came through as First Class ! That made a very big difference in that after each walk when I really struggle to get going we could use the First Class lounge at Euston for a rest, a coffee, the loo and advance notice of the departing platform so I had time to get there. It did also mean that our carriages were the nearest to the exits both at home and in London - a real bonus on an 11 carriage train.

Things change in business and a year is a long time - unfortunately Virgin's charity policy changed and they now focus all their charity work to one charity.                                                                                                                                                                                                            It is good to support many but it is equally as good to give more to just one. I completely understood and will always be grateful for their support on Routes 1 - 6 - without it my Challenge would have been a lot harder, added walking at the stations and of course financially


Thank you so much to all the media team, train staff and lounge staff at Virgin Trains.

We decided to do Route 7 on a week day - this caused a little problem. Looking at taking the train it soon became apparent that both the times and cost was against us so we decided to drive. Here came the next issue - parking.

Majestic Wine Docklands was the finish point for Route 6 and would be the start of Route 7. They were amazing in allowing us to park in their car park all day - as I'm sure you'll appreciate parking in London is very expensive and quite limiting.

Using Majestic's car park made Route 7 easier both in setting off, returning via the DLR and of course refreshment at the end !! Thank you Majestic !!

Route 8 is a little easier - as we're staying for the whole week we'll be parking at our hotel. We mainly use Accor Hotels, both here in the UK and in France and will be staying in one of their hotels neat the Excel Centre. Our son now works for one of their Mecure hotels here in the Midlands.

Transport sorted then from Route 1 to Route 8 - I really appreciate the help from everyone - just need to keep my personal method of transport going for one last time !!