Aug 16, 2006 08:00
Trains annoy me. I try very hard to use them as I'd rather spend an hour on a train and then cycle for ten minutes rather than drive 50 miles to my nominal "office" in Shrewsbury, but it annoys me a lot when I arrive at New Street to see a sign saying "Cancelled. Will start at Wolverhampton".
In what world is that any use? I'm clearly not in Wolverhampton; the train I wanted to get was the next train for Wolverhampton. Cue a delay of nearly an hour for the next one.
On the way back my mood had been improved by an energetic cycle ride, so I was hardly phased when the woman sitting opposite me spent most of the journey in the toilet. The guard did nearly evacuate the train though as she'd left her bag at the table while in the loo for an extended period. "Oh, I was on the phone" she said on her return. Thank you, but that's TMI and not a vision I wanted.
Of course I'd followed the advice given to our government and profiled her informally. Had the owner of the bag been a nervous, sweaty, single Muslim (or Brazilian electrician) I'd have reported it myself - but I didn't think there was much propensity for suicide bombing amongst middle-aged, overweight white women with too much fake tan who had been planning their visit to Slimming World moments before.
I know I shouldn't generalise, but...
current affairs,
train,
cycling