During the last couple of years, I have embarked on a mission to pay more attention to what is around me. To help this mindfulness experiment, I started to keep a journal of my more interesting experiences on public transport. This is one of those episodes.
Thursday 28th September 2023
07:30 - I arrive early at my departure station, as usual the dimness of the morning light coupled with the low hanging cloud means there are very few of us who stand on the platform awaiting the train.
I check the train boards and so far so good, the train is on time. I switch over to Spotify and change the track, somehow 'Mr Blue Sky' isn't working for me this morning, as the low hanging cloud descends and wraps us all in a bitterly cold blanket of light rain. It is rain of the type you don't really notice as it silently clings on to you, slowly seeping through and soaking you by stealth.
07:40 - More people are emerging on to the platform now, and before long there is a crush of dark coloured raincoats and bright umbrellas. Sensible people who have kept dry, keep their distance from an almost completely drenched me. There is an unspoken but acknowledged jostling on the platform as people attempt to guess where the train will stop and more importantly, where the doors will be.
07:43 - More jostling and movement as the train lights appear in the near distance, people making their final preparations for the arrival of an unusually on-time train. One man wearing probably the brightest yellow coat this morning, can't seem to make up his mind and a little glimmer of panic flashes momentarily in his eyes as he dashes directly towards me. I take a little step back to avoid being pushed into the path of the oncoming train.
07:44 - The train has stopped, I have played the game and guessed correctly where the doors will be. A minor scrum forms behind me as people rush to the doors. The goal now to find a seat. Looking through the window as the train pulled up, I've identified a row of currently unoccupied seats and quickly formulate my strategy.
The shrill of the beep accompanies the doors opening, revealing a single passenger wishing to get off the train. Frantically the scrum behind me separates to allow a small corridor. But as the passenger escapes through, the scrum collapses into a free-for-all as we get on the train. Mr Yellow-coat, has manged to make up for his indecision and has snuck into the doorway behind me.
I make my way to the seats and grab the single seat in the corner. Mr Yellow Coat sits opposite me, and scowls. Tentatively I ask him
"Everything ok?"
He looks at me, with an glimpse of anger in his face, then responds "that was my seat, but you sat there".
Confused I check the overhead seating panel to see if there are any reservation notices. Confirming that there weren't and as if to make the point, I loudly motion him to review the seat reservations. He isn't happy, mumbles something about hating facing backwards. I re-apply my earbuds, but pause the music as I remove my wet jacket.
The train departs.
07:50 - The train pulls into the next stop, and more morning commuters file into the train taking the last remaining seats in the carriage. A couple of teenagers have opted to stand in the entranceway behind me. Their conversation is loud and I understand that they should be going in to college today but the Boy teenager is trying to convince Girl teenager to skip morning lectures and go for breakfast. I can't decide if his interest is reciprocated.
The train departs, one more stop before our destination.
08:00 - The train conductor is making his rounds checking if anyone needs a ticket. Boy teenager suddenly can't control his bladder and quickly dashes into the toilet. Girl teenager shows her rail card. Train conductor shows no interest in either of them.
Mr Yellow-coat, says he needs one, but he gives the most recent stop as his boarding point. He glances at me to see if I say anything. I don't. He smirks as he pays for his 40 pence discounted ticket. He pays with change much to the train conductors annoyance.
Boy teenager emerges from the toilet as we slow down.
08:10 - As we approach the stop, we can see the large scrums forming on the platform. A voice comes over the speakers to inform us that It's about to get really busy due to the cancellation of another service. There's a small murmuring amongst the other passengers. Mr Yellow-coat swears something barely audible.
Doors open and throngs of disgruntled morning commuters fill the train. People sat down avert their eyes, hiding the shame that they have a seat whilst these new arrivals will have to stand for the remaining part of the journey. The carriage fills quickly, people are squeezing intimately close in the aisles. Personal space is reduced to a couple of inches at best, my own space is rudely invaded twice. Once by a lady with a red brolly who dripped on me on her way past, the second time by the backside of a large man who has decided this is where he will stand. Mr Yellow Coat catches my eye roll and spares a laugh at my expense.
08:13 - The voice announces to us again some apologies for the cramped nature of the train, but urges people to make space along the carriages as some people are struggling to get on. There is a collective sigh and no attempt is made to move by anyone.
Lady Red brolly decides to put her brolly in the overhead storage shedding the last of the water droplets, some of which find their way onto Mr Yellow Coat. I return his laugh. Old rivalries die hard it seems.
08:20 - We depart, understandably a later than usual. The train operators displayed some magic and managed to squeeze everyone in, not in our carriage so I dread to think what conditions are like further behind.
I notice Boy teenager and Girl teenager have been separated, Girl looks a little sad to be apart from her friend. The odds for breakfast together have shot up in my estimation.
Mr backside leans against my seat. I pray he doesn't break wind as my attention returns to my phone. I change tracks on Spotify and settle in for the last ten minutes or so.
08:36 - The train pulls in to Manchester Piccadilly where, as the automated voice tells us in her emotionless robotic tones, "this service terminates". People scramble for their belongings. Red brolly lady retrieves aforementioned red brolly which had shed it's last of the rainwater. I watch as the water coalesces and the newly formed puddle streaks it's way to the stack of 'free newspapers'. I spare a thought in solidarity, to the train crew who no doubt will enjoy the pleasure of disposing of sodden newspaper.
Mr Yellow Coat is one of the first seated passengers to stand and barges his way into the aisle, as nobody had yet got off, this caused great annoyance to those already standing. Lady red brolly in particular who shoots him a death-stare and mutters under her breath.
Thankfully Mr backside had been able to control his bodily functions and I sighed a little relief when the doors opened and he was able to get off. I wait in my seat as people in a greater rush than I, make a beeline for the exits. I notice out of the window that Boy and Girl teenagers have been reunited, and the smile on Girl's face is enormous, maybe Boy might be getting more than a bacon butty and coffee this morning.
Gradually the passengers pile out, I put on my sodden coat and leave the train.
Breakfast sounds good right about now.
until next time.
Note: Some of these pictures are mine, others created with the help of Dall-E AI image generation software.
Congratulations @jamkir! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
Your next target is to reach 50 upvotes.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out our last posts: