So…3 times a year, I head ‘up’ to London to attend meetings for the Early Years and Primary phase committee for the Geographical Association.
Today is one of those days, I was up at 6 and Dave very kindly chauffeured me the 30 minutes to Piccadilly station for the 7.35 to London Euston.
Having boarded the train and found my seat F24 I plonked myself down with freshly brewed decaf latte from Upper Crust. Having double-checked I was in the correct seat, I settled down and plugged my low charged fit bit into the plug socket I prebooked.
I had also ordered forward-facing but was in rear-facing. Tut tut. As I was on a table seat I saw the other 3 seats were reserved from Stockport. In the few minutes I had before arriving, I imagined who my travel companions would be……3 ladies heading for a day of retail therapy and maybe a show perhaps…not to be.
We arrived in Stockport and I saw my companions from the end of the carriage, a mum with a 3-year-old and a baby of about 8 months heading towards me. They sat down, 3 year old sat and stared at me, transfixed, had I toothpaste on my chin, coffee on the end if my nose, could I cope with 2 hours of staring?
I then saw dad struggling with the pram, bags and cool bag………oh no, couldn’t cope with this, not even 8 am yet. I politely offered my seat to them to give them more room…..”Are you sure?”
“Oh yes, don’t worry, I know what it’s like travelling with small children.”
A quick escape to a front-facing seat F9, no plug, but small sacrifice.
So settle down again to my coffee and kindle (The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris)
Become aware of the 6 people behind me…….only primary school teachers, discussing their planning, how they would have to spend all day tomorrow doing the planning for instruction writing on how to light a bulb- linking to the science, the seminars they were heading to at The Angel, whether they would manage the tough sudoku or not. Sadly I find it hard to zone out of such conversations……
” I was passing a pupil from last year the other morning so I said ‘Hi sweetheart, have a good day.’ Father behind said,’thanks very much, be careful though, my wife is standing just there!'”
Headphones time I think……another hour to Euston.
Rambling With Ruthie 