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The Journey West

Traveling is boring. Don’t get me wrong, I love exploring the world. There’s something utterly magical about nosing around someone else’s town, trying new foods & meeting new people. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it. There is however, very little less magical than the actual act of traveling. I don’t like airports, I hate flying, trains are boring and cars invariably make me fidgety & want to stop for picnics. So when someone gets it right, & I mean really right it’s worth shouting about. Tom & I headed to Cornwall for the weekend & decided to ease the pain of a six hour train journey by booking into The Pullman Carriage (an old Orient Express style service that runs along the South Coast). We met at Paddington & jumped on the first train after work. A conductor led us to our table & we settled down for the long haul.

As the train chugged out of the station beaming staff came & took our order. I went for the “Pullman Reserve Smoked Salmon” – smoked over oak in Somerset, with capers, cornichons & cream cheese, with rye bread.

And T chose dressed Dorset crab with salad.

I’ve been to restaurants with some pretty spectacular views… but none that change every time you glance up from your plate!

As the countryside sped by we chatted & relaxed into each other’s company.

Our main course however was a beautiful distraction. We both went for the Somerset fillet steak with CafĂŠ de Paris butter.

They arrived on a plates that were soon piled high with creamy potatoes, leeks carrots & mustards.

But those piles quickly dwindled to nothing.

A generous homely style of serving food meant that the smiling, West Country staff kept popping over and asking if we’d like “just a little bit more, darlin’?” & scooping potatoes, carrots & molten butter onto our plates.

One of us was particularly happy about this…

As we waited patiently for pudding we snuggled down with our emails. I do my best work on trains, fewer distractions I suppose.

Although probably not when Tom’s around!

Pudding was treacle pecan tart with Dorset clotted cream.

Washed down with buckets of tea.

And coffee for him.

We finished the last of our wine.

And watched as the landscape changed from Country to Coast.

After a few games of UNO we finally arrived just after midnight.

Tumbled right into bed & woke up early on Saturday, ready to explore…

But more on that tomorrow.

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