The day after getting back from Plymouth, to Weymouth for the day. This is doable by train and, as the heatwave continued, off I set, armed with the dog and my old person’s rail card.

I have done this journey before and, on a Saturday in July, it was not crowded. It wended it’s way scenically through Somerset and Dorset before depositing me within sight of the sea. The dog slept on the seat next to me all the way. This time, it was slightly more stressful.

For a start, it was both the heatwave and the school holidays. Many people on the train, a lot of them children, along with a lot of buckets and spades, rubber rings, picnics etc.

Train arrives late, travels slowly and, two stops down the line stops altogether. No explanation is vouchsafed. Another train arrives on the other platform and we all sit for a while. Then, all the people on the other train get off and get on our train. Most of them standing. This doubles all the things mentioned above. The dog sits on my lap, looks out of the window and is much complimented on her good behaviour. Turns out all the doors on the other train could not be unlocked so the passengers had to get off via the guard’s door. We arrive in Weymouth an hour late. On the way back, we leave 20 minutes late but it is not as crowded and does the journey faster.