Surprises, Surprises
As much as seeing other nations and experiencing other cultures is a valuable cultural experience, there's no place like home. Even if that home is more than 3,000 miles away from where you were born, but that was a relatively minor issue all things considered.
Goldie yawned as the plane touched down at Heathrow Airport. It'd been a long flight, and even though the hour change was small (only one hour) flying was rather exhausting. At least she didn't have to drive anywhere afterwards. Heathrow Express got her directly to Paddington, where a train was waiting to whisk her back to Bristol.
After going through passport control and collecting her suitcase, Goldie made her way to the station and boarded the train. Only fifteen minutes later the electric train had arrived at Paddington, the electric hum joining the familiar roar and rumbling of diesel engines. Goldie couldn't understand why somebody would take a taxi to this part of London from Heathrow. It was much faster and cleaner by train, not to mention cheaper. Here, you didn't have to worry about traffic as somebody else did the driving.
She walked down the platform, seeing a group of people taking photos of the trains and comparing their shots. Railway enthusiasts, presumably. Her mind briefly wandered back to Argyle, the sight have reminded her of him. Where was he now, and what was he doing?
Oh well. Knowing that, in all likelihood, they would never cross paths again, she had wished him luck on any future endeavours he may embark on. He seemed a nice enough guy.
She crossed the concourse and boarded another train bound for Bristol, a diesel service helmed by a High Speed Train. According to a leaflet they were capable of 125 miles per hour, which was certainly very quick.
Quicker than driving, anyway.
Two hours later, Goldie stepped off the train at Bristol Temple Meads, and made her way through the streets back to her apartment. It was in a fairly pleasant part of the city, and the price wasn't too bad- her father had helped her secure it, but she'd insisted on paying him back. After all, one good turn deserves another.
She dropped her case off and quickly checked her phone, with her boss having messaged her. As was normal at VivaRail, employees who had just returned from business trips got the remainder of the day off to recover- after all, somebody who is dopey after flying will struggle to do their job properly.
Goldie knew precisely where to get herself perked up, though.
The Bristol Coffee Merchant and Canal Company was a popular venue with students, not to mention a major watering hole for Bristol's business community. Many a conversation and deal had been made there, and Goldie was no stranger to its brews. Many of them were close to what she had known as a student herself, so it was something of a homecoming.
She popped in through the door and placed her usual order, before joining the queue to wait for it. Three men were standing about whilst discussing something about Ash cans, not forming too orderly a line, and this was blocking the way to the spoons.
"Excuse me," she said to the first of them. "You wouldn't mind moving a bit? You're blocking the path a bit and..."
The words died in her throat as the man turned round. The last face she'd expected to see here looked back.
"Argyle?"
Argyle seemed frozen for a second, but then his face erupted into a grin. "Goldie! Fancy seeing you here!"
One of the other guys looked over. "You know her?"
"Bumped into her in Dresden on the photo trip I went on," Argyle explained. "Didn't expect to run into you again. Fancy stopping for a drink?"
Goldie nodded. "Provided you're not busy, that is."
"My meeting with my degree supervisor isn't for a few hours, so I can spare the time. Flat White's for me!"
Goldie waited for her latte to arrive, then picked it up and went over to the table Argyle had found and sat down. "Well, consider me surprised."
"I'm a student here," Argyle clarified. "Doctorate in Art Studies. I'm focusing on the role that global economic mindsets played in the development of American art in the early 20th Century."
Goldie nodded. "My company office is here, so it's possible we may run into each other."
The two continued talking, oblivious to the fact that Argyle's friends seemed amazed at the fact he was talking to a woman.
A few days later, Argyle was on his way north. The weekend had arrived (which meant no classes), and he was taking the opportunity to travel north to see family.
This was by train, naturally. Why would somebody like him own a car when trains can get you where you need to go? Even if some changes were needed, as relatively few trains went direct from Bristol to Leeds, it was still far more comfortable than driving, Argyle felt. You could sit back and let somebody else do the driving whilst Britain whizzed past your window.
Four hours after starting his journey, Argyle got off the train at Leeds Central, the HST he had travelled on roaring as it pulled away. Many cars were still in older liveries, as Virgin had only recently obtained the CrossCountry franchise.
Still, the station presented a riot of colour with so many train operators using it, and as such it merited a snap.
Once that was done, Argyle boarded a bus to take him the rest of the way. Luckily, there were seats on the top deck, so he could look down at things going by rather than have them squished up next to him.
His destination was what appeared to be a workshop on an old industrial site, with several cars sitting outside. After showing a pass, he stepped inside and stopped to see a car being worked on, with somebody underneath it.
"Just a second, I'll be done soon!" said a voice, from under the car. A few moments later, a rather tough looking man with brownish eyes and brown hair, as well as a brown beard that was greying in places, rolled out from underneath the car. His eyes lit up when he saw Argyle. "Ah! Argyle, my boy! Came to pay your old man a visit?"
"Yeah," Argyle said.
"We'll pop over to the house when I'm done," the man said. "Just got this last job to do." His radio then buzzed. "Yeah, this is Brad Starshine. Jack, we're starting to lockup now."
After being driven over to Brad's home, Argyle made tea for three people (as his mother Sarah was also there), then decamped to the living room.
"Trip up good?" Brad asked.
"Went nicely enough," Argyle replied. "Your car workshop still going strong?"
"Well, turns out a former aircraft mechanic is just what people are looking for when they need their cars fixed. Planes and cars aren't so different under the hood- lots of moving parts to keep them on the go. It's a good lesson you'll learn when you sign up."
Argyle looked surprised.
As did Sarah. "Brad, I thought that Argyle couldn't sign up."
"I was joking," Brad replied. "But enough about me. How did your trip to Dresden go?"
Argyle took his photos out of a sleeve and placed them on the table. "Got these developed at the chemist a few days back. I had to do the best with what I had, after all."
Brad looked at them, and smiled. "These are great!" he said. "Great sense of motion to them."
Argyle glanced up. "You think so?"
"Of course I do," Brad said. "I'm your dad, it's my job to support you."
"Thanks," Argyle said. "Of course, it was a bit challenging when a railway worker challenged us, but thankfully somebody translated for us. Met them later as well."
"What's his name?" Sarah asked.
"Her name," Argyle corrected. "She's called Gloria and was there on business. Even lives in Bristol, funnily enough."
Brad laughed. "So, when are you bringing her round?"
"I've only talked to her twice," Argyle sighed. "I'm not ready to start dating again after last time. I'm looking for something casual, like a friendship, right now." He looked down. "Not that it matters. I doubt I'll ever find love. Who'd find somebody like me attractive?"
Sarah placed a hand on Argyle's shoulder. "I'm certain there's somebody out there for you," she said soothingly.
"Exactly!" Brad said. "You know, one of my buddies at RAF Leeming was from Trinidad originally. He always had some sort of wisdom to impart, and once said to another buddy that every bread has its cheese."
"What's cheese got to do with it?" Argyle asked.
"It means that there's somebody out there for everybody, so don't give up hope," Brad said. "I'd more or less given up when I met your mom."
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Sarah went to answer it. "Looks like our guests are here!" she said.
Well, now the story can move forward a bit. The main arc is now well underway, and with Goldie back in Bristol things can only look up for Miss Skylight.
Heathrow Express is an express passenger train service that connects Heathrow Airport to London Paddington station, and was built to improve on existing transport links (the Picadilly Line, which was connected to Heathrow in the 1970s, takes 50 minutes to do the same journey). The train journey depicted is based on the early 2000s alignment as Terminal 5 had not been built at the time this chapter takes place.
Motive power in the era of the story was the British Railways Class 332, an EMU type built specially for use on Heathrow Express services. Tragically, no complete sets survive, as all but three cars were scrapped in the early 2020s.
The HST, or High Speed Train, is one of the most iconic train types to have ever operated in Britain. Originally built to connect major cities in record time, they lived up to their name (with the class still holding the world record for fastest point-to-point diesel run). The images shown above show the two liveries seen in this chapter; the first is the 'Merlin' livery used on the Great Western Mainline between 1996 and 2004. The second is the first livery used by Virgin Trains, a livery which is fondly remembered by people who grew up in the privatised era (such as myself).
The coffee shop is based on one I frequented at the University of Nottingham; the name is an allusion to it.
Finally, after quite a lot of waiting, we meet more Starshines! In this chapter, we meet Argyle's parents Brad and Sarah. Brad is based on an American family friend of mine whom my maternal grandfather knew when in the Air Force; they were stationed at nearby airfields. Many years later, I got to meet him when it turned out he lived not far from the American university I studied at between 2022 and 2024. Sarah is modelled on one of my aunts.
But who could these new people be? Find out tomorrow!
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11962657
Ah, gotcha.
I reckon so.
Comments on new chapter:
(Sighs) so sad when certain trains aren't preserved for museums or heritage railways.
Seems Goldie and I share the same feeling after flying. Reminds me of the first time I went flying again on my own. The rest of the day was taking recouping.
It's amazing how you can end up running into familiar faces in a random location you happen to stop by in on a daily basis.
Argyle's parents are quite an interesting pair. Shame we never get to learn about extended family in the show.
On the other hand, talking to ladies can't be that surprising, can it? But then again, I suppose it all comes from a certain point of view.
11962713
Tell me about it. Many of the units I remember from my formative years are not entirely with us; 3/4 of a Class 365 survives, as do two carriages from a Class 317.
And mine too. My most recent return to the UK was especially horrific as I didn't sleep a wink one night. I spent much of the rest of the next day shambling about like a zombie. Moving six time zones really does a number on you. For that reason if I'm going to the west coast I tend to overnight somewhere in the Midwest.
Not least somebody you last saw where you'd just been. That's partly inspired by an EqG story where Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash first meet on holiday, then encounter one another again at CHS years later.
I suppose the most we got was Grandma Figgy, but apart from that it's a bit of a shame (seeing as many G4 families got a lot of development).
That's partly from my own experience. I'm very socially awkward and struggle to talk to other people, which meant finding people I could really connect with was a must.
beauty is in the eye of the beholder great chapter mate keep it up can't wait for the next chapter
coffee was rationed in America but not in England during ww2
11962719
Man!
In my case, it was more with the fact my body wasn't used to the take off and landing. It rattled Mt organs something crazy. After I returned from the trip, I had to relax in a hot bath just to get myself reset.
Ah.
And then there were those paintings of other royalty Zipp found in that one episode. Regardless, it's still annoying to me. I mean, that's part of the reason I came up with OCs that are Celetia and Luna's family.
That is true, I'm kinda the same way to this day but it isn't as bad as it was before.
11962776
It sure is.
11962786
Curious, that.
11962798
Happily, an entire Class 313 still exists, and can still move under its own power.
That sound was the soundtrack of my childhood.
My condolences to you. I felt similar when I travelled by Eurostar for the first time.
Yes.
Presumably those are Zipp's ancestors. FaloanCortez had quite a bit of fun analysing those, as the two portraits reference ones of English monarchs.
Likewise.
11962831
That is good to hear!
Thanks.
I reckon so. Although, I definitely know for my own stories I am definitely gonna feature OCs for Zipp and Pipp's grandparents. I just don't know what to name them yet.
Namely, I can have conversations with my coworkers just fine.
11962839
I've got quite a bit of a family tree figured out for the Havens, if it helps.
Excellent. I could converse with my fellow GTAs at Alabama with no difficulty.
Wait, it's cheaper!?
Wait, he's dated someone before?
Aww.
11962849
That would be helpful, actually.
That's good. And I converse with members of a model train club I'm a member of.
11962850
1. Yes, actually. At the time this chapter takes place the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) was being rolled out across London, which slapped a charge on polluting vehicles. This was designed to encourage people to use public transit such as trains, which in London is predominantly electric.
2. He has. It's actually quite normal to go through several relationships before finding The One.
3. That certainly is true.
11962863
Let's hop to PMs, then.
Having people you share a hobby in common with can make it easier.
11962882
Aye.
Indeed. Infact, one of the guys I interact with a lot while there commented on my Katy Caboose build video.
11962884
I hope he spoke positively of it.
11962887
He did. He was one of the guys who watched me build her while I was at the club.
11962881
shame most people in America don't agree on that even if some cities have commuters.
11962889
Sweet!
11962893
Some cities are getting better, though. CalTrain recently upgraded to electric, for example.
11962896
Not to mention Brightline in Florida.
11962899
Good example. Chicago is also pretty clued-up when it comes to electric railways.