Frost in the morning, frost on ponds en route.
In the sun, Sheffield crisp and cold but not too cold.
But, lovely and sunny, and Sheffield quite pleasant in the sun.
Northern Fail new trains badly designed. Only two-coaches when require at least three-coach train. !3A power point hidden beneath seat, have to be a contortionist to access. No usb power points. Pillars obscure views out of the windows. Deafened by announcements. Widescreen screen in face for route announcements. Destination board obscures view out of the windows. Why not built in to coachwork as LNER Azuma trains? But at least the new trains have wifi. But why encourage the taking and posting of selfies?
East Midland Rail refusing to accept cheques from end of February.
Stunning view of power station on River Trent at Gainsborough.
Stopped at Motore Cafe coffee kiosk for a chat, but no time for a coffee.
Looked in Union St via a different route. No Now Then, no Taiwanese lunch.
Today, falafel, but what I saw did not look appetising.
I walked to Union St a different way, but no direct way. Path leading up from Sheffield Station ends at a busy main road. Usually I walk via the Winter Garden.
To Marmadukes, past Town Hall and Peace Garden, then side street, Sheffield Cathedral one side, Mamadukes the other side.
To Marmadukes where both food and coffee always excellent.
A good selection of guest coffee on sale.
Burger for lunch, no sauce or relish. Nothing wrong with, but the burger stands on its own merits.
Followed by excellent cappuccino.
Marmadukes is always very busy. They have now opened at a second location near John Lewis but no time to check it out.
Hop on a bus to Kelham Island. Luckily two pulled in as I got to the bus stop. No 7 and No 8 go to Kelham Island.
I told the bus driver where I wished to be. He seemed clueless, and I got off further down the road.
I asked of a Flea Market the way. And a man en route. Around the corner.
Could I find Cutlery Works? No. I was stood outside.
Cutlery Works claims to be the biggest food hall in the North. Whether true I do not know.
I was after Bullion bean to bar chocolate.
I had a wander around, two floors. Worst street food in one location. OK not that bad, no kebabs, no German assuages, nevertheless not good and the smell from all the food stalls all pervasive and not pleasant. The place was nigh on deserted. I hate to think what it is like when all the food outlets cooking.
I had thought of saving time, head to Kelham Island to eat. I was pleased I did not, and ate first at Marmadukes.
Zero atmosphere. Widescreen TVs everywhere did nothing to improve the ambience, with offers of sport.
Refusal to accept cash, credit card only, discriminatory and not acceptable. Neither acceptable use of wifi a crude scam to harvest personal data to then abuse.
I stopped and had a coffee at Foundry Coffee Roasters. Two bored looking people behind a long counter, otherwise engaged on either laptop or smart phone.
I ordered a cappuccino. It was not good.
Back downstairs to Bullion. Long and interesting chat with Max.
I wanted Bullion 1 2 and 3. Only No 2 and No 3, apologies for no No 1.
Nearby, I would have liked to have visited Sheffield Cheese Masters, but sadly no time.
Whilst in the vicinity, I decided to try and find Saw Grinders Union. I headed of in the wrong direction, retraced my steps, turned out I was heading in the right direction but had failed to turn down a very narrow muddy alley running alongside the River Don. Looking into the river, trees which must have come down in the recent floods.
Alley eventually turned into a street, twists and turns, cobbled streets, old derelict Victorian buildings.
Finally I fond Globe Works which house Saw Grinders Union.
No idea the name, I should have asked.
A bar and a coffee shop.
Helpful barista who knew her stuff. But, not a great choice of coffee roasteries on offer, Extract, Grumpy Mule and Workshop.
My cappuccino not great.
Helpful young lady then walked out with me and pointed out where I could catch the tram back into the town centre and hopefully train station.
By now I am panicking, already missed one train, would I make the next one?
Helpful guy at tram stop advised which tram to catch. Two due into the city centre, the second, only a couple of minute apart, went to railway station.
En route we had interesting conversation about failing public transport system and the need for not only investment, cancellation of HS2 gravy train, but far better integration of bus, train and tram. He told me of how bad public transport in Manchester.
For example, in Sheffield can use bus pass on tram, in Nottingham cannot. In Manchester train service dreadful, within Manchester and across country east west, no common fare structure across the different bus companies.
The same is true in Lincoln and Lincolnshire. With bus pass choice of PC Coaches or Stage Coach, but if purchase a ticket, can not be used on the different buses.
Arrived at train station with ten minutes to spare.
Platform not too crowded, but ten minutes later packed. All ready to jam onto two-coach train. They must have packed onto the other coach as on my coach not packed in like sardines, though still standing room only. At Worksop train empties and can get a seat.
After 1900, Lincoln Central Bus Station deserted. Nearly all bays bar a couple, no more buses for the day. The overhead screen shows more trains than buses.
Only 2C.
Tags: Bullion, Cold early February day Sheffield, Cutlery Works, Foundry Coffee Roasters, Kelham Island, Marmadukes, Motore Cafe, Saw Grinders Union, Sheffield, Sheffield Station, ShuJu Kitchen, Union St
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