Kirkwall; Friday, 04 August, 2006

I left the house at 7pm, knowing that I had 23 hours worth of travelling ahead of me, and I wasn't even leaving the country (though the Scots may have something to say on that)

I arrived at Euston with plenty of time, so I relaxed in the sleeper lounge, well aware that the last time I did this it all ended horribly (see Eastern Lowlands).

The train started to board at 20:30, 45 minutes before it was due to depart. I walked down to the train, checked into my cabin and then went and sat in the lounge.

At 21:15 the train left Euston and at a little after 23:00 it passed through Stafford and spectacularly failed to break down! Safe in the knowledge that I had gotten further North than last time I went to bed to get some rest.