to have sent my 14 year old off alone on a cross country train journey....

[BurberryFucker]

from Wales with changes at Birmingham New St and London (Euston to Liverpool st) to the other side of Colchester?
am going out of my mind with the arguments between him and his twin sister so have sent him off to stay with my dad for a few days to save my sanity and give them both a break.
now am freaking out as he doesn't have a mobile with him......
ETA at Colchester approx 6.20....
AIBU?
ps he is quite streetwise.

frogspoon i repeat he does not need a map or a torch - the phone would have been good tho........
thanks for your positive input people - will keep you all posted.....

I was his age I went from Manchester to Londonderry by bus/ferry on my own, And that was pre mobile days too
I'm sure he'll be fine.

why would he need a touch? He is going to colchester not a solo trip up the amazon. last i heard they have street lights in colchester.

Have you checked the train to Colchester is running. Greater Anglia is still very disrupted - or at least it was this afternoon

Don't want to worry you but I'd just check if I were you

Lol at solo trip up the Amazon.

I'm confused.

10 minutes ago you said he was walking to you dad, in a village.

Is he going to Colchester (a sizeable town) or a village?

I don't think he would need a torch in Colchester, just in the village.

thanks bitoutofpractice - just checked the website - there are a few cancellations but seems to be generally OK

Frog she said he is going "the other side of Colchester" ie a large village just outside Colchester

Op did you see my question about GReater Anglia?

YAB a bit U at sending him without a mobile phone but other than that it is fine IMO. I'm sure it is fine, he's probably enjoyed the independence and the time away from his twin.

frogspoon it is a large village beyond Colchester with (gasp) streetlights - compared to where we live now it is a veritable metropolis.

Service update here Greater Anglia

yy like going from Liverpool to Northwich southside, actually Hartford, but not naming the station for obv reasons.

My son travelled from King's Cross to Inverness at that age. My daughter has flown, aged 13, to France alone.

They are fine to travel and it is good for them. :)

Ok thanks for clarifying.

I still think you're being unreasonable though!

well i knew that someone would say that frogspoon - -

Latetothematch I also don't think I would have posted eta the fact that a 14 year old is going to be walking on his own.

Remember this is an open forum.

Eh?

I think the likelyhood of a badun' scouring the internet looking for threads about potentially vulnerable 14 year old boys stumbling on this thread, being able to work out exactly where the OP's son is getting off his train, being close enough to get there before he is due in, then being able to identify the correct boy in rush hour when there will be plenty of other people and most likely teenagers around and find the opportunity to carry out some nefarious plan is as likely as the existence of unicorns

Paranoia at it's best.

yup innit nora?

Check the bloody update OP. I'm worrying now!!!

yeah all those dirty old men that hang around mn are now putting on their flasher macs and hurrying over to colchester of the off change of finding their victim.

God, I'd love to have seen your son's face if you'd packed him off with a map and a torch OP

it is the Clacton line tho bitoutofprctice not the Ipswich line - so should be OK no?
@ catspel

There's no point checking the update! He's left, she can't contact him!!

I work with someone who is a bit odd and wears a flasher mac.

Sorry - random musings

I am far far more amazed at any 14 year old actually stirring outside or out of bed without a mobile these days.

what's your secret? never ever heard of a 14 year old who isn't bloody constantly texting or snap chatting!!!

totally gob smacked.

Can't help laughing at the map and the torch! OP - does he have a foil blanket and some Kendal mint cake? You will have been seriously neglectful to send him off with anything less!