Why is crapness ok?

That title makes this sound like the start of a Carrie Bradshaw stream of consciousness, but it isn't - I promise.

But what really pi**es me off about this country - and I realise it's at least as bad in plenty of other countries, not least my own - crapness seems to be acceptable.

Thanks to some mysterious 'signal failure' (aka 'feeble excuse no 795') today, what would normally have involved a 20 minute train journey (from Guildford to Dorking) took the best part of three hours, via Clapham Junction. At no point did any staff brave the platform and risk the ire - or even the polite questioning - of the small band of weary would-be travellers. No, they hid in their office and cowered behind the tannoy. But, to be fair, the LED screen did say 'sorry' ... That make it all ok, then.

Ring of Brodgar, Orkney

Up to Orkney last week, to see the sister and her family. Thanks to volcanic ash, the journey there was somewhat more epic than planned, involving a total of five trains (Leatherhead to Thurso, done in a mere 13 hours, not counting time spend in stations), one overnight stay and a ferry - 29 hours between leaving and arriving. But there were adventures along the way, and scenery to gladden even the most travel-weary heart. And it was all worth it when I got there. Family fun aside, Orkney has a charm all of its own, demonstrated not least by the Ring of Brodgar. A neolithic stone circle on a gentle plain, there's a real magic to it that I will never be able to put into words.

A rainy day and a Monday ... but brightened somewhat by the return from holiday of my lovely boss. Having been in Japan for two weeks, she brought me a pair of kabuki-patterned socks (fantastic)and a wonderful coffee cup with a cartoon of Nikko's famous three monkeys. Of special resonance to me, as I was once chased down the road by a wild monkey at Kegon Falls, near Nikko. Offended by my efforts to take his picture, he lunged at me, prompting me to sprint off at a speed since neither before or since.