Great Western Coffee Shop

Bit of a sad week coming up, as I'm currently packing boxes to move house on a week Tuesday.  I've been in Bristol for just short of three years and very much enjoyed my time here.

I will be moving back in with my parents (north of Portsmouth) for a few months before (hopefully) moving up to London in September where I've been offered a place on a Master's degree.

With regards to travelling with FGW, I'll be making at least 10 return journeys between Cosham and Bristol before June (hence my post asking about carnet tickets).  After this, it'll be quite unlikely that I'll need to travel with FGW in the near future on anything but a very irregular basis :-[

Since first using FGW in the summer of 2008, they have improved at an incredible pace.  The customer service is now very good and services are only cut short as a last resort.

I have also seen the Severn Beach Line grow.  When I first moved here, I counted a maximum of 12 people on a train.  Over the last year, I've seen almost full trains at similar times to those I travelled on previously.  With Bristol's roads being particularly bad, I can see how this line (and community rail services elsewhere) are very beneficial to people living nearby.

The Coffee Shop forum has made me feel like more than "just a passenger".  The help and advice provided here has been second to none.  Informative news posts have also kept me up to date with the latest developments.  Thank you to Graham and the rest of the team for keeping the site a friendly place.

I want to wish everyone on here good luck with improving/maintaining the service at their local station(s) and will make sure I pop in regularly to maintain my knowledge.

Take a look in "The Lighter Side" for a traditional photo quiz from my time here.

 :P

Wow!  Thanks very much for that heartfelt post, Brucey!

Best wishes for the future, from all of us - and please do keep logging in to the forum here!

Regards,

Chris.  ;) :D ;D

The very best of luck in the future Brucey!

Your help and assistance, particularly when offering fares advice to others has been most welcome.

Please do keep your hand in on the forum when you're not too busy doing your Masters. Can I ask what you are studying?

Finally, I'm regularly in that London so maybe one day we could hook up for an ale or two once you've found a decent 'local'!!! I've managed never to bump into you on the Severn Beach Line!

Best wishes,

bignosemac.

At the moment, I'm studying BSc Biochemistry.  Subject to my exam results at Bristol, I'll be doing a MSc in Bioinformatics (which in one short sentence is basically the application of computer science and maths to biological problems) 8)

Yes, that'd be good.  Its a shame that I've not met anyone from the Coffee Shop in "real life" - my schedule has been very busy during the previous meets!  I am looking at living in South (or South West) London somewhere, so commuting into Kensington won't be too much fuss and travelling "home" to Pompey will be easier.

There is one thing that I must do before I leave Bristol: travel between Avonmouth and Severn Beach by train.  I've been meaning to do this for months but not managed it.  I might try to fit this in on Saturday, if I can find time.

Maybe it's time for a Coffee shop meet up in London then at some point... ;D

I reckon if we do it should be in Victoria, then we can all go and see Wicked :P

Seen it  ::) :P

Brucey, we'll be sad to see you less often ... and happy to see you occasionally.   I'm up for a meetup in Victoria ... that would be back on home territory for me.  Platform 3 or 4 for the Orpington train calling at Brixton, Herne Hill ....

Yeah me too Jo

Actually what I am really going to want to see is Les Mis once Matt Lucas and Alfie Boe have joined the cast.

But that's a bit off topic so Brucey I wish you well, and yeah drink in London be good :)

Well, if you're able to make it, Brucey, I'd be delighted to join you, for that particular treat!  ;D

Options for me will be the 1116, 1316, or 1516 from Bristol Temple Meads - I can't make it any earlier, as I'll be working at Bristol Parkway.  ::)

I'm just trying to rearrange some things on Saturday to fit this in - will let you know tomorrow Chris if I'll be able to make it.

Fair enough, Brucey - and thanks!

No need to break your neck trying to make arrangements - though it would be great if we could also get bignosemac along, too!

CfN  ;D

Unfortunately, bignosemac is busy this Saturday. He's meeting the GFs parents.

<gulp>

 ;D

Good luck with that, bignosemac!  ::)

Travelling on the Severn Beach line is only done properly if one is on an HST, of course ...  ;D

I'm clear with nothing on saturday so can join the fun! well as much funs as severan beach line is - beats flat cleaning

Brilliant!  Brucey, if you can possibly make the necessary re-arrangements, please do!  ;) :D ;D

I regret that I am working so cannot attend.

I'm afraid it'll have to be a no can do :(

I'm hiring a van this Saturday to move my stuff/junk out as my dad can't get a day off work in the week to help me.  I tried changing this to Sunday, but can't find any van hire in the Portsmouth area that is open on Sunday and charges a price comparable to the corporate contract rate I've used.

My original plan was to take the first train of the day to Severn Beach (which I think is 0729 from Clifton), however this might have been a little too optimistic considering I'm planning on going out the night before 8)

This stretch of line will have to be something that I'll do in the future - hopefully on a HST if that happens again!

Sorry that you can't make it this time, Brucey - but no problem: it can keep until another day.

to be honest if i can't get a job here in the South West me and my mate are going to be packing up all our stuff and moving to London where we've found a really good job and a really nice job just outside London.