Robert Johnson's Posts

Singing communication corridors and slamming toilet seats.

#railway #station #waterloo #GuideDog #vance

Guide dog Vance retires at the end of the year after giving me over six years of sterling service. Vance has become familiar to many at work and today may be his last in the office. #GuideDog #vance #retire #work

I read about them earlier today in the Independent, a group of Illinois students spreading Christmas cheer by singing Christmas carols and other festive tunes down the phone to people throughout the world - and I had to give it a go! To have a song sung for you call them on +1 217 332 1882. What a lovely initiative it is! #DialACarol #christmas #2015 #WeThreeKings #fb

It was just what I needed after travelling all the way from Bruges to London, a diversion via Ealing South on account of tube engineering works. Somehow it always seems to be the way though, speeding through Europe only to take two hours to complete the final 10 miles. #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #tube #EalingSouth #assistance #bus

The train stopped briefly at Ashford International on the return leg to London, where my parents alighted. Having said how fast the journey from the tunnel to Ashford is the train then proceeded to sit there for over five minutes waiting for a platform. I thought I would spare you that bit. #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #ashford #eurostar #announcement

We reflect on a successful trip to Bruges and talk about the wonders of the Cyhannel Tunnel. #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #eurostar #tunnel #channel #chunnel #reflect

We board Eurostar at Brussels for the return leg to the UK. #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #eurostar #service #assistance #brussels #board

With all of these recordings featuring beer you'd be forgiven for thinking that there was a theme to this trip. We had however walked for an hour and a half before this lunchtime pint so I think we deserved it! #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #beer #brewery #lunchtime

The musical bells in Bruges ring out once more as we set out on a Sunday morning walk. #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #bells #sunday #horses #square #walk

This recording is rather hindered by the wind blowing the window shut and the sound of me completing my morning ablutions in the background. Nevertheless, it gives a small taste of the morning atmosphere in Bruges. You may need to turn the volume up a bit! #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #morning #atmosphere

T'Brugs Bertje (or Bertie) is wonderful and I would happily stay there all day were it not for the strength of the beer! There is not much more I can say. #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #BrugsBertje #bertie #bertje #beer #pub #atmosphere

T'Brugs Bertie was about the closest thing to a typical English pub in Bruges, and we knew that in order to get in we had to be there early. We weren't the only ones! #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #beer #pub #Bertie #BrugsBertie

We take to the streets to explore Bruges, with the constant sound of church bells ringing across the rooftops. #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #walk #wander #canal #bells

My dad takes a shine to my shoes, literally. #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #shoe #shine #dad

Our first proper meal of the trip, in a brasserie with a particular focus on beer. It could have been made for dad and I! #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #brasserie #beer #lunch #cambrinus

Having settled into the journey I don't suppose vance was really expecting anything to happen, until at Ashford my parents appeared. #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #eurostar #ashford #mum #dad #parents #surprise

The journey begins properly as I reflect on some excellent service received from Eurostar. #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #eurostar #assistance #SinBin

Hitherto unknown to me each of the original Eurostar trains contains a couple of carriages with what appears to be a small meeting room but which I discovered later to have been designed as a mobile prison cell. They do at least provide a little extra space for enormous guide dogs and so the train manager sent us that way upon reaching the platforms at London St Pancras station. #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #eurostar #SinBin #MeetingRoom #Coach10

It's finally time for "the off" and Vance and I head to St Pancras for the early morning Eurostar departure to Brussels. #BrugesTrip #Bruges #brugge #belgium #weekend #CityBreak #christmas #november #2015 #GuideDog #Vance #shepherd #VI #trip #StPancras #eurostar #assistance #checkin