Posted by Peter on 2/4/2007, 3:51 pm Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to Paris by Eurostar for a business meeting, and the old nerves are kicking in big time.... This hollow feeling of emptiness and that pit in the stomach feeling is really here. The sad thing is that it is only a 3 hour trip, but thats about 2 and half too long for me, and I have to get to Waterloo from Ipswich to start with! The whole concept of travel, especially sitting about and not being in control, makes this condition all the worse for me. I drove last year to Eurodisney and was absolutely fine, but because I was at the wheel I was the one whom could control when and if we stopped, which incidentally we didn't even though I had my 5 year old daughter and my wife with me, whom did not want to stop. What is making it worse also, is that I am traveling with a colleague, I have said I will meet him at Waterloo, so the main leg of the journey is broken, as I don't want to appear to be going excessively to the toilet, because I know myself, I'll go with a weak signal, fail, and then panic, at which point my world starts imploding. I have got some dimazipam (Spelling wrong I know) and I intend to take one only if I get a panic attack, because I need my wits about me for the meeting in the afternoon. And will I be able to pee whilst in Paris? Nightmare is I'm coming back the very next day, so stress level is building up. I, like many others I'm sure, visit this page daily, it has been my strength and focus, but now I'm virtually at a travel date, it seems as if I haven't read anything. I was hoping to do a beginners course before May's Long Haul flight, but it looks as if there isn't one. I'll let you know of my experience of the next 2 days, and I'll try and be positive. (Don't want Lusy telling me off again!, Lusy your advice and comments at times make me laugh, which cheers me up, Thank you)
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Posted by Steve on 2/4/2007, 8:45 pm, in reply to "Travelling - Nightmare" Best, Steve
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Posted by Lusy on 2/4/2007, 10:15 pm, in reply to "Travelling - Nightmare" *grin* I promise I won't tell you off, well, not this time anyway...I can hear (hear?) the panic in your post. (I suspect it was better then you were expecting?) |
Posted by Peter on 5/4/2007, 5:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Travelling - Nightmare" I checked the site for any possible replies and saw Steve's and Lusy's replies, which helped me considerably that morning, but my stomach felt sick to the core. I took the train to Liverpool street, (I had not had a drink all morning from getting up) and went to the toilets on the station, straight in a cubicle no problem, not much though, but as I said no drinks. Jumped in a taxi, to Waterloo, my plan was to try and go again before seeing my colleague, but he saw me straight away and we checked in and sat down waiting to board the train. There were many people, (Easter Break with Kids traveling I suspect), and I thought well I had only been three quarters of an hour ago, so I tried to forget about it, but it lurked in my mind. After 2 hours on the train, I thought best have a drink, a bottle of water, 500ml, straight off, knowing I was only about an hour away from arrival in Paris. On arrival it took another hour to get to the hotel, still no urge really to go, and I felt much more relaxed at having got over the train journey. Checked in at the hotel and straight for a pee, no problem. Changed went to meeting, no problem, went out for meal, 11 of us! panic building, hit the beer, panic subsided, then big urge, oh my God, but, delight that toilet at restaurant was a normal toilet like at home. That night, again up 5-6 times in Hotel room, emptying bladder for return trip the next day... No drink again, went to another meeting at 9, then off to the toilet at meeting place at 11, all cubicles in use.. aaaargh! what the hell stand at the urinal, they had high partitions, amazement a little stutter but I went.. Hooray, a major boost in my confidence, the sick feeling lifted immediately, back to station, dare I try and go again train not departing until 1 pm, why not? Went, and success, but in cubicle. Aboard train first 10 minutes 500ml water and coffee, with 3 hours ahead of me to go. Colleague falls asleep, I go to toilet for a test run 1 and a half hours into journey, it's very cramped inside, don't like that, trains moving about putting me off, but I stand and persist for about 2 minutes and a slow stream starts to happen, I'm rapturous. Now you may think this is a break through, in a way it is but the words that Steve said, "if you let it" helped me a great deal with this and Lusy's comments too, as always, positive in saying I bet all went well, to all sense and purposes it may have done to a degree, but only because of the advice given by Steve and Lusy, many many thanks. Andrew I have sent you a reply email, hopefully you will respond, and many thanks also. Nigel, I don't envy you, but your planning agenda sounds great, I found the toilet upstairs near departure, cubicle, was fine, try it, its near the last Tabac, souvenir shop before boarding coaches 1-7. Thank you UKPT, for being here, reading, helping, making our lives livable, and your words of good sound advice.. Peter
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Posted by Nigel on 3/4/2007, 9:01 am, in reply to "Travelling - Nightmare" I have trouble with these types of business trips and travel on the Eurostar to Paris quite often. I never managed it on the train yet but my advice as follows: I would make sure I pee before meeting up at Waterloo, find a cafe nearby and pee at leisure. Don't bother tying on the train it all seems a bit public. At Paris Gare du Nord there is a public loo with good private cubicles. From the Eurostar platform turn left and head under the big flickering timetable to the other end of the station, down one flight of steps and the loo is on your left. You will need a 1 euro coin to access the right hand turnstile wich leads to a row of good cubicles. Often busy but even more excuse for you needing a bit more time. On the return leg I often use the same loos while I get my colleague to get a beer in at the station bar. I pay for the beer and he waits to be served while I visit the loo. Works every time. Good luck, and don't worry about the long haul. It's fairly starightforward if you hold it till the in flight movies/ food begins. Loads of loos and no time pressure.
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Posted by Andrew on 3/4/2007, 3:18 pm, in reply to "Travelling - Nightmare" cheers Andrew
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