Booking train tickets is the bane of my life. I’m very lucky in that I have someone who can help book my travel if I’m organised far enough in advance to ask them to do so, however the reality is I’m not always as organised as I’d like – especially when I’m trying to juggle work travel with some sort of social life at home. This week I’m off to give a masterclass on research use in #socialcare practice at Kingston University. This makes my soul ache for numerous reasons, namely the eight hours travel (at least) on a Friday, the feeling of losing some of my weekend by being away from here on a Friday, the inevitable busy trains, the fact that Kingston is a good hour and a tube/bus/walk away from Paddington. Luckily, the subject matter makes my heart sing and I’m optimistic that the session itself will be good fun, and hopefully well received, and I was invited by Ray Jones who has been a staunch supporter of our organisation for years, so I’m delighted to be going, just less delighted with the travel.

Anyhow, why am I waffling on about this? Well tonight I decided to book my travel, and what happens:

I wasn’t allowed to book a ticket, the system didn’t tell me I couldn’t book, just that I couldn’t book accommodation – which I’m guessing means a seat. Please tell me the train companies are not allowed to now sell you a ticket without a seat? Booking train tickets has stolen so much of my life over the past few years I couldn’t face fighting the booking system. I decided writing this and appealing to the wisdom of twitter, was more likely to resolve the issue.

So any ideas for how to book my travel? Please? Or any offers of lifts door-to-door gratefully received!