Having not managed to get many rail miles under my belt recently, a recent work trip gave me the chance to get more than a few ticks in the box and complete my Monopoly set!

The main objective was to use the Chiltern service beyond Bicester Village on the newly opened extension and also get use Marlyebone for the first time.

Marylebone is one of the few termini that has escaped me, with the tube being more practical on jaunts to and from that part of the world.
It's a nice little station and a bit of calm and tranquillity compared to others.
My 168/2 was also a pleasant surprise. Although I prefer loco's to multiple units, the layout and lack of airline seating made up for it.
The journey was quick and smooth (particularly on the new section), punctuated by what sounded like the United Nations announcing Bicester Village, rather than the standard announcer.

The last time I used a Cotswold line service  (and the times I had seen the allocation), it was a 180. A nice little bonus to the trip was the appearance of a 43. 
With the 43 being an irregular caller at Durham, it's always nice to get one without having to go out of my way.
Reading station is always a nice experience, with the roar an omni-present sound (for now)... However this guy wasn't stopping at Reading on this trip, despite the appearance of 43002.

A little blast on the bus network when I was down there, gave me a chance to remind myself about the Stagecoach Gold offering. It is a while since I used the bus network in that part of the world, in particular Stagecoach. I was limited to the S1 and 10 plate E400's. Having had the chance to compare that seating to similar seating up here, there is only one winner and they're not the seats up here.
Previous trips had left me non-plussed, possibly due to a lack of pleather seating in the NE to compare to - at the time.
However, having sampled the seating up here on a range of operators/routes since and reminded myself of the Gold seating, I do think the angle, height, pitch and comfiness of the Gold services is more my cup of tea.
Wifi wasn't working again. Yet to have wifi on the Gold services.

Having had the expected 3hr trip on 91 from Durham to KX, I knew my ticket type would give me the flexibility of one of the quicker 'top o the hour' services north. It was just a case of trying to work out what time I would get to KX and which service I would get. The 1400 to Aberdeen was the next train north (so a smile slowly started to emerge).
I'd hit on lucky and worked my along the platform to board a set powered by 43308.
A nice long blast with a power car I hadn't had before. It was now just a case of enjoying it and deciding where I was going to get off and change.