And then it snowed...

And then it snowed…

Yesterday I was up at the crack of dawn, well 7am, and excited to get ready to travel up to London. It’s been a few weeks since I was last there and I was getting itchy feet, well that’s one reason. Do read on…

Despite having a false summer last week, where blue skies encouraged photography and a day’s warmth encouraged the shedding of jackets, yesterday was exactly the opposite. Biting winds had me wrapped up warm as I walked towards Colchester Town (rail) Station, and then, and then, I could hardly believe my eyes as flakes of what turned out to be snow, lazily drifted from grey skies to the rail tracks (melting as they touched).

It was hardly a blizzard, though it was cold enough but, instead, a taste of what the British weather might achieve once it got going. I smiled. Yesterday was the first time I had experienced snow for many many years. I was just trying to remember how long, and I really can’t remember. I had been cold in Ireland, but that was rainy weather, I had been cold in China but it didn’t snow when I was there, so it’s probably more than 18 years since I experienced snow, and yesterday was a very slight reminder.

The train was warm. Colchester station was being swept by light snow, more like a cold wind with added snowflakes, and waiting those few minutes for the second train had intended passengers sheltering intermittently behind the open-fronted shelters provided. 

That second train (to London Liverpool Street) was crowded. It was my first experience of a crowded train since I arrived back in the country of my birth, last June. I felt somewhat uncomfortable to be seated next to someone I didn’t know and facing a gentleman who obviously was equally uncomfortable with me sitting next to his wife. The recent Will Smith Oscar’s incident flashed through my mind, so I kept my distance from my fellow traveller as much as the seat would allow.

Was it a date or simply meeting up with someone I have been in contact with on the internet? Honestly I don’t know. It’s been too long since I actually dated, you know, dressed up, splashed aftershave and raised my expectancy levels to nervous proportions. I feel that’s the province of youth, and rightly so. Yesterday was a first meeting of some description, and what exactly it was may (or may not) be revealed (to me) in due time.

A year and a half ago my ex insisted that I move on. That’s after hinting for the previous six months. It has taken me that time to realise that moving on might just be possible. I had been in mourning, grieving for a lost relationship. It was a serious soul destroying business which, I feel, I can begin to see in retrospect, finally.

So there she stood, facing Platform 9, it was 'Brief Encounter' in reverse.

I am led to understand (though I have scant personal knowledge of this) that pictures on internet dating apps may be somewhat misleading. Check on Google, there are pages of info on this. Some people place blatantly untrue images, others doctor their photos to smooth over blemishes etc etc etc. Rarely do people look better than the image they are promoting except, that is, on this occasion.

I’ll not laden you with details or gush with rapturous descriptions of someone I have met once, so far. But suffice to say that I met with a charming, attractive woman who was humorous, quick witted and thirsty for knowledge. The venue we chose to talk in suited her background, and my desire for that Chinese food which ‘touches the heart’.

Tempus fugit.

Too soon I was back on the train heading for Colchester, wishing that I had booked a later train.

Watch this space…