My Journey To Saved 2 Serve 2014

I went to Saved 2 Serve (or Saved2Serve if you prefer) six times between 2012 and 2018; but my journey to Saved 2 Serve 2014 is easily the most memorable! I first went to Saved 2 Serve in 2012, and found it alright; but didn’t go in 2013 due to some confusion as to when it was on, and some feelings about the previous year.

Originally, it looked like I was not going to be able to go in 2014 either, as my family had been invited to a wedding around the same time. But then with just a few weeks to go, it was pretty clear we weren’t going to the wedding; which meant I could go to Saved 2 Serve instead. So, despite the fact that the registration deadline had passed, I got into touch, and just in the nick-of-time, I was able to get my place reserved, and then I was on my way.

The trip down from Lancaster to Ware was long, but I had managed it in 2012; although in 2012 I did go to the wrong station, as though whilst the conference was near Ware, Ware wasn’t the closest train station, so this time I chose the other one.

Firstly, I had to stop off in Preston, as I needed to have a one to one with my Creative Writing lecturer Helen at UCLAN (or University of Central Lancashire if you prefer). But, after the meeting, I was back on the train bound for London. Now, I don’t mind train travel, as it was always, and still is, a great time to do some reading. This journey’s enjoyment though was a little fraught thanks to a young child listening to the same episode (I think it’s the one below) of Big and Small at least five times on their tablet, over a period of nearly two and a half hours. I can still hear the voice of Lenny Henry saying words like “I can’t understand Blink” or something, and that little jingle of a song, followed by the frequent exchange of the child saying they had ‘found their fireflies’, followed by their mum saying ‘OK!’

Eventually though I arrived in London Euston. This was always the weirdest part of the journey to Saved 2 Serve, as I had to go all the way down south to London; to change and catch a train to somewhere north of London. Things at this point get a bit blurry memory wise. I probably got a snack as it was getting a bit late, plus I used the London Underground of course, and re-boarding the national rail service, somewhere around Tottenham Hale probably.

Anyway, by this point, it was dark, and getting darker. I did already message ahead my likely arrival time for about 8:30pm, so they knew I was arriving late anyway, and had kept some tea aside for me. When the train finally arrived at St Margarets (Hertfordshire), it was about half an hour early, but still incredibly dark. I got off the train, sent a text out to the organizers, who sent Paul out to come get me. But in the meantime, I was all alone, at this incredibly pitch black train station.

When I looked out towards the town, it was nicely lit up, and I could see some of London’s night lights on the horizon down the track. But everywhere else, it was pitch black. It was so unnerving, and spookily creepy. The sheer sight of it all, made even more amazing, when I stood on the bridge, and looked out on the deep dark car park.

But soon, Paul arrived, and he took me to All Nations Christian College. When I arrived I was told that tea had been reserved for me, but currently a meeting was on. So I went into the main meeting hall, sat at the back, and was silently greeted by Chris sitting next to me. The meeting went ok, with Chris finishing off the talk by highlighting the code for the games room. Then after that I could go and get my tea.

So yeah, it may sound like a pretty normal late night journey to some, but the combination of everything leading up to it, during it, and after it, made it a once in a lifetime journey. One which I sadly did not get a chance to repeat, as in all the following conferences…I left at a more suitable time!