AS the parent of a small child I know how valuable sleep is and how you should seize every minute of relaxation that comes your way.

To that end I planned to leave a friend’s birthday celebration in Leeds on Saturday a little early and get home at a decent hour.

I got on the train at Leeds and rang my partner, confidently predicting I’d be back at home within 30 minutes.

It was with some worry that I woke up at Manchester Piccadilly about an hour later.

Not to worry I thought, we’ll turn around and go back to Huddersfield.

After we set off I fell back asleep and upon waking, asked a couple in front of me if we nearly at Huddersfield.

“Manchester Airport” came the reply.

At this point I could have panicked. But not got off, so I sat tight.

I got to Manchester Airport and asked the kind guard about my options. Luckily it turned out the train returned in about forty minutes.

I popped to a nearby garage (revealed to me by the guard) and got back on the train.

I’d like to thank the guard, the Bulgarian Huddersfield University student who met her friends at the airport and was on her way back to Manchester with them and also the man from Brighouse who’d just been to see Hot Chip in Manchester for keeping me awake as we traversed eastwards.

Their help meant I got home just three hours after I set off on a 17 minute train journey.

It’s the last time I leave early from anything!