I caught the late ferry which got me into Piraeus shortly after eight a.m. local time. I had done what I promised, the notary was tied up and I had spent days waiting for him, so that was how I came to be in Piraeus on Christmas Eve. I now planned to fly home from Athens. The ferry journey from the island should have forewarned me, but stormy weather grounded all flights. I caught the train up to Monastiraki and opted for the Athens – Turin train, with Turin - Paris and so on to follow.

You know what it is like when you make a promise to your mother, especially when you have a history of not being totally reliable. A point to prove. I said I would 100% be there for Christmas Lunch with the family for three p.m. without fail. As Fed Ex used to put it “When it absolutely, positively, has to be there overnight.” - that was me.

The train got into Turin at 2p.m. local time at Porta Susa and the Paris one was to leave from Porta Nuova. I had ninety minutes so I flagged down a taxi so I would have time for a final Italian coffee before boarding. As it turned out I still had twenty minutes to kill (as if one could kill time, but you know what I mean.) The train to Paris had a dining car and I opted to eat rather than sleep. The food was good, for a train, and the wine helped. I was beginning to fade.

And then I spotted this lovely looking girl about five seats up. As I looked at her she raised her head and smiled back. I headed back to my seat, unfortunately in the opposite direction, thinking she looked familiar. I was going to say I couldn’t get her out of my mind, you know, the big glittering eyes, the swan-like neck, the almost too good to be true smile, but in fact I fell asleep, waking as we pulled into Paris Saint Lazare. Late Christmas Eve Paris was Bedlam. Traffic at a standstill, people everywhere. Paris Gare du Nord was 3 km. away. In spite of the backpack I decided to run it. Made it with enough minutes to spare to get a Eurostar ticket to St. Pancras, and boarded as they locked the doors. As I got on the train I saw a plane fly over. As I took my seat I got a message to say flights were back up and running. Too late. I snoozed again. I awoke when the Eurostar chap shook me and said “time to disembark” by which I quickly understood him to mean get up and go, so I got up and went. As Eurostar is by a long shot the most expensive kilometres in all of Europe, I reckon he could have been a little friendlier. And can one disembark from a train? Anyway, now I was in St. Pancras. To get to Paddington I had to go first to Euston and then back to Paddington. There was only one remaining train, which got into Fishguard at four a.m. The last ferry left Fishguard at four a.m. Was it a connecting train? No, not really. I took a chance. At a minute to four – the train was early – I jumped off the train and sprinted for the ferry. From twenty metres I could see the guys coming to pull up the gangplank. I waved and shouted. Little effect. Only one looked over. He said something to the other and they continued. The momentary pause was enough. I threw myself onto the gangplank and grabbed the rail. They couldn’t safely pull it up with me on it, so it was a stalemate. I hung on. After a minute one of the said “come on up then” and I was onboard. I sorted out a ticket and sat down. The ferry was due into Rosslare at six a.m.

We were stationary outside Rosslare Harbour for some hours after six, before the seas calmed and the Captain risked docking. It was ten fifteen when I touched Terra Firma. What could go wrong? My sister’s house was only about a hundred km. away in Wicklow.

It was now Christmas morning. By the time I retraced my steps into the arrival building to enquire about taxis etc., the staff had all packed up and departed. To add to my problems my phone was dying. I had meant to charge it on the train, but I forgot. I could feel a wave of angst undulating over me, and then I had a brainwave. I sprinted across the impedimenta and caught up with one of the last lorries leaving the port. I stuck out a thumb. He stopped. I couldn’t believe my luck. He turned out to be Polish. He explained they celebrate Christmas in Poland on Jan 6th (The Epiphany) so he was driving today and would be back in Poland for ‘his’ Christmas. He insisted in taking me right to my sister’s house. I wished him Happy Christmas and climbed down. I waved him on his way, and ran up the steps to the front door. As I approached, I got the feeling there was no one there, and sure enough there was a note on the door. Change of venue due to stove breakdown. Christmas Lunch now at my Mother’s house. Another fifteen km away and it was now gone two p.m. Everything was pretty quiet. No traffic. Everyone already home and probably exchanging presents, eating and drinking. Yes, I felt sorry for myself. I wandered around the side of the house and spotted my 12-yr-old nephew’s bicycle. Ah well, I thought. I got a spanner out of the little bag of tricks attached to the saddle and raised the saddle and handlebars as far as they would go, and set off. I looked ridiculous, but there was no one to see me. I got to the end on my Mother’s drive at ninety seconds to three. I flew over the potholes and cracks and rang the bell dead on three. Dead on my feet also. Of course, I was treated like the prodigal son even though everyone else had managed to arrive in time for pre-prandial drinks and conversation. I kept my head down and ate.

The next day we went to the races. And yes, the girl was there. I didn’t manage to engineer a conversation. There was a plan to visit a local barn dance in the evening. I have to say, I wasn’t keen, but the youngsters were and so I agreed. I went upstairs to my old room and pulled out some clean clothes. We headed out in barely muted good spirits. They were dancing The Walls of Limerick when we arrived so we joined in. Not more than a minute later I found myself opposite the girl. Yes. The one on the Paris train, and at the races. I said “Do I know you?” She smiled, and said “Not yet.” And thereby is a whole other story.

© Dave Cuffe 2025

Christmas Eve...

2023