Monday 22 February 2010

Exeter

As this is the 101st post you will be pleased to know that I am going to resist the temptation to make any remarks about dalmations!

I will go back to memories next time but on Saturday I was in Exeter. In one of my favourite books (The Withered Arm by T W Roache) he describes Exeter as a friendly poised place ideal as the capital of the West Country. The Withered Arm by the way describes the former Southern Railway system in Devon and Cornwall most of which has been consigned to history.

The day got of to a bad start as the train I was on came to a halt at Borough Green due to a major points failure at Otford. This resulted in missing the 09.06 train from Paddington and having to wait for the Cornish Riviera at 10.06. The return journey was not much better either as the up Royal Duchy 17.02 from Exeter was running 12 minutes late as a person decided to walk in front of the train at Tiverton!
Anyway Exeter certainly lived up to its promise and is a great shopping centre which gives you scope to increase your overdraft! The city centre suffered from the ravages of the second world war but has been rebuilt and offers everything you could want. In fact I enjoyed a very nice pub lunch which was an absolute bargain at £4.95. The purpose of going though was to look at the medical school there which was very impressive.








Peninsular Medical School Exeter












Outside Exeter Cathedral

Andy

8 comments:

Sybil said...

So glad that you enjoyed your Exeter visit. It is a lovely town I think. Although I expect much has changed sinse my collge days there some 50 years ago....can it really have been that long !! I have been back since but only for a brief visit and saw the new shopping centre..
Love Sybil x

Anonymous said...

It looks huge, but I do like the way they've kept that oldy worldy bit with the foliage hugging it's walls....makes it look very friendly. I hope your daughter liked it too.

rache

Linda George said...

Looking back to your post of 9th October, when the future was looking bleak and you felt you possibly had a couple of months left, well, I bet you didn't think then that you would go back to work and be trolling off on trips to Exeter nearly five months later. Hope things continue to go well for you.

Linda xx

Angie said...

I have to agree with Linda, Andy, it's lovely to hear your old self in your blog entries.

love, Angie, xx

Liz said...

101 does not remind me of dalmatians. It is like a digital call to tune in to Classicfm!
Sorry, but there is a sister station for you at Jazzfm. :)
Listen and love the music that reflects your love back to you.
We all grow stronger with the light of love to guide us and the sound that we feel holds the music we recognise will always play loudly in our hearts.

Jeanie said...

The medical school and cathedral look very imposing Andy.
I can never understand how these poor suicidal people can choose to stand in front of a train where the driver has to live with their decision and mode of death. He has to live with that nightmare for the rest of his life. God bless them both!
Sorry your day out was marred in this way but the shopping centre at Exeter sounded interesting indeed.
Jeanie

ADB said...

It's been 30 years since I was last in Exeter, Andy, but I remember it as quite an elegant place. Sorry to hear of the trains mishap.

Funnyface said...

Hi Andy
I must get up to Exeter more, your quite right about the shops, not sure if my overdraft can stretch any more tho!
Big Luv
Jaynee X