Ihave muddled it all up as my sister Rosie was married when I went to Paris, the city of my dreams.

I packed my case and said farewell to the tenant who had just taken a furnished flat in our home. I caught the tram to Croydon which was drawn by two horses and met my two school friends Ethel and Dora on the platform at East Croydon Station where they had come to see me off.

My first stop would be Newhaven and I would be travelling by night. I wore a blue hat with a long flowing veil of pink. I felt comforted when my friends said I was showing a good deal of courage and strength of purpose to attempt the journey alone. People did not do those things in those far off days - it was rather unheard of. Ethel and Dora were very excited and kissed me over and over again. A young girl going off to Paris - the city of sin and wickedness. But this was the odyssey of the killjoys and therefore it did not trouble me.

The continental train came in from Victoria and goodbyes were said and I was cheered at seeing these two friends and waving to them until they were but tiny specks. I closed the window and took note of my travelling companions. There were two ladies and an elderly man. Everything looked strange and whilst the others either read or closed their eyes I, myself. never felt so far from sleep. The rattle of the train and the darkness without rather awed me and I had a feeling of being carried away across the world.

The two ladies started speaking rapidly. One continually replied to the other, “Oui - Oui. Oui Oui.”

They produced a tiny black kitten from a basket and fed it with milk and then they started to gather up their possessions. I thought we must be getting near to Newhaven and ventured to enquire of the elderly gentleman. He yawned and looked out of the window. The train stopped and he got out and disappeared. I followed the other passengers to the boat and when I produced my ticket the man at the gangway made some remark I did not understand and I passed on.

I had only been across the Channel to Ireland after my father had died and I had been very sea sick, so I wondered if I should be so again. But the sea was not rough; it was a clear cold, early  

Spring day and after I had settled in my cabin, the boat ceased to rock. And then the baggage was being collected and people were going along the gangway. It had seemed a quick journey across the water and we had got to Dieppe. I clambered out onto the deck, carrying my suitcase. I held onto my hat and veil which was blowing out into the wind.

On the quay was a train puffing and blowing with an enormous engine. One could scarcely hear one’s own voice the noise was so intense.

A man in a blue smock opened up my suitcase saying, “Anything to declare?” and, scarcely waiting for an answer, he stamped on the lid it and I lifted it up and ran for the train.I found myself in the same carriage with the two ladies and the kittens. It was bought out of its basket and continued to lap up the milk.

The steps to the train were so very deep and one felt so high up from the railway lines as the train rushed through space. The hours passed and the train never stopped. I could imagine my mother about to have breakfast and women would soon be selling their daffodils in the town. I could imagine the girl who sat near the statue with all her spring blossoms in a basket and here was I flying over the hills and far away.

Just as I was feeling sleepy and the train had become a lullaby I woke with a start. We were slowing down. In giant letters facing me I read ‘Gare Saint Lazare’

“Is this is Paris?” I said.

The lady with the kitten answered, ”Oui. Oui.”

The kitten clung round her neck and she had some difficulty getting it back into the basket. I held it open for her. The little soft ball of fluff felt so human I would so love to have taken it , I felt so alone.

Conveying my suitcase and scanning the platform for a face I knew I passed through the barriers. There was no one to meet me - not a soul. It was alarming to say the least. Where were all the flowers and the marvellous how do you do’s which I had always been given to understand painters and sculptors went to great lengths to greet their visitors?