January 21, 2008
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Cheese Puffs and Cambourne
I think I am suffering from lack of processed cheese in my system. Sort of like nicotine withdrawal or something. There are no Jax Cheese Twists in England. There are no Cheetos of any sort. I keep telling myself to stop whining about junk food. You tell me that, too.
Tonight we had quite an adventure. Hunter and Wit planned to go to the teen Bible study at the youth leader’s home. To get there meant a cross-city bus trip with a transfer in the middle, something none of us have tried before, so I went with them. I checked in on Sunday and asked at the main bus station which bus, where to get on, etc. The bus guy told me, and I was sure all was well.
We gave ourselves an hour for the trip figuring we’d get to the house way too early. Ha!
First of all, we missed the first City 4 bus because we were a minute late. We crossed the street to a bus shelter and asked a random person if the City 4 came to that stop. “Yes,” she said. We waited another five minutes and another City 4 bus came–across the street. We decided to wait for the one on our side of the street as we saw the last City 4 that came that way turned toward town. It came, we got on, and the bus left. After a moment, I realized that we were going AWAY from town. “No bother,” I thought. “They are probably just going to the Park and Ride lot a two-minute drive away.”
Three minutes later, I peered through the mud-splashed bus windows into pitch blackness and realized I didn’t recognize the road. Where were we? Oh, no! We were on our way to Cambourne!Were you ever trapped on a bus to an unknown location, not knowing when it would stop or turn around, and all the while you are watching time slip away when you have to be somewhere? That’s the feeling. Not so happy.
Twenty minutes later, the bus emptied its last passenger (save us) into the quaint town of Cambourne. I went to the front of the bus and explained to the driver that we went the wrong way. “Well, I’m off duty now, but I’ll take you to a bus stop where you can wait for another bus.” Off duty? He wasn’t going back to Cambridge? “But, there’s a nice fish and chips shop near there you can pop into while you wait,” he offered jovially.
The three of us stood umbrella-less at a deserted bus stop in the wind and rain (poor, poor us) counting the seconds until the bus would arrive. (It was 1,020 seconds.) By this time, the Bible study was starting back in Cambridge. The boys were not happy, but they were kind and un-sulky.
Finally, we got our bus, got into Cambridge, figured out the bus we needed for the transfer, and made it to the study–only 45 minutes late. Sigh.
Thankfully, R, the female youth leader, drove us home. “You’ve had enough nightmare with buses for one evening,” she said. May her six month old sleep through the night–God bless her!
Comments (32)
My goodness…I did that VERY SAME THING!! Except, I was alone. I missed my stop and I had to keep riding it till it came all the way back around, like an hour later. The driver was nice and didn’t make me pay any more because he could tell I was so bewildered. They are used to it over there, and we just aren’t. Sigh. I love my car, anyday
And bless the off duty bus driver who didn’t just tell you to take a hike! I bet you are feeling very American! At least it’s all in English! (or am I being presumptive?)
I am sure the lack of processed cheese in your system has befuddled your brain and that is why the bus fiasco occurred. Yes, that must be it. Once your body adapts to REAL cheese only, hopefully things will become clear again. Seriously, though, that had to be a bit scarey! Glad you got to your destination safely and that R drove you all home. I am wondering how an entire nation can be cheese puff-less? What kind of junk food DO they have there?
Yikes! the only time I felt like I got stuck on a bus was when I fell asleep on the school bus and woke up to an unfamiliar strech of road. I thought I’d missed my stop, turned out I just never pay attention to the road. Glad you made it back okay. It’s amazing how plans always seem to go wrong, but in the end everything works out, one way or another.
RYC-Oh, my. I would have to stick with fruit and cheese!
Oh no, Poor you. I hope next time goes better for you.. More wiser for the next time. Hmm, someone need to ship you 1-2 day express mail to you with those processed cheese or cheese chips that you love.
What an adventure!! I use to ride the bus all the time, as a kid, in CA.
God bless you.
IT is hard to feel sorry for you when all this is happening in England.
Look at the sites you got to see that you otherwise might have missed! (sorry, can’t help myself)
Oh, I am sorry about the junk food, but I can commiserate. I’ve been on a diet, and, of course, am attempting to eat no junk food.
I would miss Cheetos, too.
I don’t do junk food–at least not most of the time.
I can think of only one thing worse than your bus fiasco right now, and that is having a migraine for three days (so far—I think I might be going for the record, ugh!)
Thinking of you!
How sweet of the youth leader to drive you home!
Must have been a relief.
I would not have appreciated that experience, either…miserable confusing bus routes!
Surprise! Surprise! It’s me!
That just sounds like a nightmare to me! Bless your poor, befuddled, wet & cold little heart!! But, on the positive side…… now that it’s over, aren’t you glad that you have all that wonderful learning experience and you’ll know better for next time!!?? (wink! wink!)….. o.k., you’re right, it’s a little early to look on the “bright side of things”!
I hope your day goes better tomorrow! B.’s 40th b-day party went fabulous and we crammed about 55 people into this little house of ours!! I was overwhelmed at first, but, my dear, dear…., and faithful, friends practically took over when they got here! I had one friend start popping things into the oven, one made the coffee, one mixed the lemonade, and others put out all the platters of veggies, fruit and cheese! Some how, I still had plenty to do and was pooped at the end of the night, but, my reward is that out home is now spick and span, more than I think it’s been in. ….. well, EVER, and my “wife points” are WAY in the positive, so, I’ll be able to make a few extra “withdrawls” from the “bank”. Hmmm…… wonder if Macy’s is having a sale anytime soon!??? ;D hee! hee!
Have a blessed day, Teacher Friend! AJ
Alesha sent me over here. Sorry you’re missing Cheetohs – may I recommend Wotsits as the UK equivalent? We do have junk food, I promise.
Tia
Poor, poor you! Silly buses! When are the Bible studies? Every week or just rarely?
You are so funny about your misadventures! I am sorry for your inconvenience but I am so glad you gave me something to read this morning! My computer has gone to the computer hospital and I am on my daughter’s laptop. Arg! The keyboard is tiny! My principal called after I was fully dressed and preparing to leave for school to say that school was closed due to frozen road conditions. I like it so much better to get the call before I dress. How can I nap now with my hair done and face painted? hahahahha
Awww, yes, mishaps do happen. The funny thing is how they are NOT funny at the time but days, weeks, months and years later, you will remember them and laugh fondly! Ask me how I know!!!!
Too bad it was raining but that will only add to the laughs later.
Now, as far as the cheetos go, I am not so sure about England but my boys will tell you that there is sufficient amounts of different types of junk food in Germany, Holland and France. They love going into the grocery stores and looking for European junk food. The types of cereal are fun. They especially like the chocolate cereal, that is in little puff squares with chocolate filling. Yep…junk food boys!
Thanks for sharing your adventures…if the airfare prices don’t come down a bit or I don’t get more frequent flyer miles….well…I hate to ponder it.
Oh TP, I have been there. A group my dh and I were with had hiked up a mountain in Switzerland,we were going to take the train down but misread the train schedule for the last train. The train we wanted to go on didn’t start running until the next day!! We got to walk back down the mountain trail in a thunderstorm. It wasn’t fun at the time, but it is a good story to tell now.
All I can say after that is “Bless your heart!” I hope life runs a little smoother for you this week!
Well…what we say in situations like this is: Makin’ Memories!!!
I am SO HAPPY To hear that your children (and you) made friends at the church.
I’ve been praying that you guys would find friends. 
The bus scenario is actually funny…only because I’ve done the very same thing….only not in a foreign country.(grin)
I love the pictures your posting…keep them coming!
Do you have friends that are sending you care packages?? Would you like for me to send you some Cheez-It’s, Cheetos, Cheese crackers and maybe a fat book of cheesy jokes??? (LOL)
Hugs! Cass
Stop whining about the junk food! And then send your address, so that we can ship you some of your favorites.
No one should have to suffer without their cheese curls!
Not to spoil it for you, but it seems that you and the kids did pretty well today in terms of junk food at Sainsbury!
P.S. You need to encourage more of the commenters to your blog to give you a 5-star vote each time they comment….
I always appreciate an encouraging word from you. Thanks.
Wow. That doesn’t sound fun. Especially the part about the wind and rain. Will you get a car after this?
I sympathize with you on the no junk food thing. Due to food allergies, my family is on a no corn/gluten/soy/dairy/anything that tastes good diet. Only my younger siblings have been tested, so the rest of us still get our junk food sometimes, but we stick to the diet when it comes to lunch and dinner. We can’t have pizza, and I haven’t had a blue cheese burger since I can’t remember when.
ryc: I’m currently reading Watership Down, several interior design and photography books, Dante’s Inferno, Mere Christianity, The Mortification of Sin, The Chronicles of Narnia, and…I’m thinking about starting Persuasion or Northanger Abbey one of these days. Only The Inferno is for school, so you can probably tell I don’t have any one genre that I enjoy reading.
As a general rule, I don’t sew. I don’t even really know how to sew. And “crafty” things…hmm…I have made jewelry in the past, but its really tedious, so I don’t do it that often. I used to make dioramas. Does photography count as a craft?
I came here for the cheese puffs, but I stayed for the entertaining story!
Hope your future adventures are a bit more enjoyable!
There are so many musicians, so not knowing one doesn’t make you lame. Ever heard of the Velvet Underground? Lou Reed was their main songwriter.
You do know the Replacements, so you’re certainly not lame.
Negotiating the PT (public transportation) gets easier. I once got on the Metro and went the wrong way an hour out of my way. The folks I were meeting thought I had been kidnapped. And no sympathy on the Cheese Doodle thingies, when you have Aero bars. And Crunchies. And Flake.
Eww. That sounds rather nasty. But definitely one for the memoirs!
About the cheese puffs–just THINK how healthy you’re oging to be without all those additives and preservatives in your system! (Isn’t that comforting?
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Mary,
You know what you need? A care package from state side
I had to share this with you….thanks to a past blog of yours, I had a craving for peanut M&Ms. Thankfully, I purchased myself a nice large bag full of pink colored candies
Wow! That’s quite the adventure. At least you were safe . . . even if you weren’t where you belonged. I can’t say I’ve ever had an adventure quite like that.