After a lovely day with my Mum and Duncs, visiting a falconry centre, eating a hotdog, visiting my friends Mark and Vanessa, and finally dinner, Mum and Duncs were driving me to the train station so I could begin my journey back home to Lincoln.
I told Mum and Duncs that my train would leave the station 5 minutes earlier then it would just to make sure I got there on time. After my farewells at the Banbury train station, I only had a short wait until I would catch my train to Birmingham, and then change there for a train to Nottingham.
Surprise, surprise, I get on a majority quiet train, and coach, to find that my booked seat is sat on already, and not by me. Even though there is a sign above it stating that it is reserved. Every time I book a train journey, my seat always seems to get sat in, even though it is clearly reserved! Dead annoying! Then it is a 50/50 percent chance that when I ask the intruder to vacate my seat, they either do so politely and apologetically, or rudely make a big fuss of it all.
Like my trip down to Banbury. Was fine in terms of people sitting in my seat. The lady was polite so I didn't make her move. I sat next to her instead. No big deal. She was getting off the train after me anyway so it worked out best for the both of us.
So yeah, given the train was almost empty, I was expecting this chap to not cause too much fuss. He looked the type of gentleman that would abide by a certain set of standard customs with grace and respect. So I said to him "Hi there. You are in my seat. But don't worry, I'll sit in the other booth as it is quiet." To which he replied rather sarcastically "I'll move now, just in case it 'gets' busy, I don't want to have to move later." He said this in a doubtful, grumpy manner with an awful attitude I did not care for. I couldn't help feel bloody pump furiously to my face, making my cheeks flush. I was annoyed. How dare he give me that kind of attitude. It was my right to that seat, seeing as I had booked it over a month ago. Like I have ranted before, if you want a particular seat, book it. Like you are supposed to. Don't leave it to chance. I don't moan when I don't book and can't get a decent seat. I take what seats I can get, and quite often on these occasions, I don't get a seat at all.
I'll be travelling to Edinburgh and London soon via train, I better not get these same types of problems! Cuz it is really going to wind me up beyond measure!
I'm beginning to really dislike trains. I mean really dislike them. When I got to Birmingham, I nipped to W H Smiths to get myself a couple of drinks and chocolate bars for the long 4 hour journey. My Grandma had given me a tenner on Saturday when I went for dinner at my cousins Becca's. When I fished in my bag for the tenner, I couldn't find it any where. Swallowing my rage I told the guy at the counter to serve other people whilst I checked all my bags for it. Nope. Nothing. So I had to reduce the drink and chocolate amount to one each as that was all I could afford on my card. Thoroughly embarrassed by the ordeal, I hurried away to wait on my platform.
The train to Nottingham is quiet. But yet AGAIN, there is someone sat in my seat. But in all fairness, no-one has marked it as reserved, and I can't be bothered to move her, so I sit opposite her. Which is a mistake. She keeps coughing. Loudly and really annoyingly. Really looking forward to this journey being over!
Girl coughing loudly, frequently and without covering her mouth, so spreading germs too! Great!
So the final part of my train journey really improved! A lovely old man, 79, boarded the train with his handsome golden lab, 9, called Chubb. Very obedient good dog. I spoke to him and told him he has a beautiful dog, and that I have a golden lab myself, that lives at home with my mother back in Oxfordshire, and we engaged into a conversation about our pets and what they mean to us.
The picture attached to this blog is of Chubb, the 9 year old golden lab. Cute isn't he? My golden lab, a female called Tarka is now 14 an a half years. A very good age for a Labrador dog. You can tell she is old. Most of her hearing is gone, her back legs aren't what they used to be, but she is still very well spirited and still trots along happily and a good walk with her 'sister', Ruby.
It was such a nice change to have a friendly fellow engage in conversation with you. It's not often you get strangers willing to talk to you. People seem to fear too much strangers nowadays, I do understand sometimes for good reason! There are wackos out there, but that is only a small minority. I've noticed this in cities and towns mostly, that people are more reserved. As you know, I grew up in a remote little village. Everybody knows everybody. A new neighbour moves in, everyone rushes to greet and welcome you to the community. It's a shame society now shys away from communicating much with one another. I hope this changes sooner rather than later. We are social beings after all.
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