strangers on a . . .

. . . train

at around 23.30 this evening, when i was about to get on a piccadilly line train - having taken the circle line from baker street to kings cross - a girl got off the piccadilly train who i had seen about 11hrs earlier on the westbound circle/hammersmith/metropolitan platform. how kooky is that? in a city of millions. this kind of thing happens to me at least a couple of times a year

i recognised the girl in question because she was wearing a super fab little green skirt with little white dots on it; i'd been tempted this morning to ask her where she'd got it. wonder if she recognised me as well - i felt like she looked at me for an extra second when she passed, but that doesn't mean it actually happened. how many people notice other people in their usual commute?

i remember when the bombings happened, and reading various accounts of train passengers after the fact. i recall one of them saying something like 'after the bomb went off, sat opposite me in the carriage was the girl who i'd seen nearly every day for the past several months - i'd always wondered about her' (she ended up either dead/passed out/lost limb/similar - i can't remember)

but of course people do notice, even though most would prefer to pretend they don't. funny thing - one has no idea if the person they've seen every day for 3 years - yet to whom they offer no recognition - could well be their next best mate or partner. interesting thought...

which reminds me of when i first started my blog, and the friends i met on the old thameslink commute that i used to take each day . . . so just a little side note, for those keeping score - the lady whom i called june back in 2004 ended up meeting a guy when she and i were commuting friends - they both work for a rail company and would bump into each other at monthly meetings - he seemed to fancy her (he brought her biccies to one meeting!) but she was: 1) blind to it 2) in denial

see, he was white and she was black and it had never occurred to her that this was something that could happen. she was also in her late 30s with two kids and a truly rotten ex-partner, and/so she felt she was finished with all that love stuff, and couldn't possibly ever meet anyone, bless her. he also had a long-term partner with whom he was in the middle of splitting - so dear june was adamant and cautious about keeping her distance

however, through various trials and tribulations, they eventually: started dating, meeting each others' kids and parents, going on holiday, moving in together, getting engaged, planning a wedding for august 2006 (which is hopefully still happening, since i've not been in touch with her since before christmas!)

all together now for the big sigh - ahhhh


Currently reading: All Men Have Secrets, edited by Tom Gallagher

rail connections, part4

well, I finally broke ole black coat. am just pleased as punch with self

this evening I took an earlier train than usual, which found me at the station at which he always alights(am)/joins(pm)

soon as I got off my first train (to connect), spotted him sitting there on the side waiting for our usual train and I just walked right up, said 'alright?' and sat down next to him...and we chatted, chatted, chatted for nearly an hour! we conversed there whilst waiting, sat next to each other on train, where I assumed he'd take his escape - nope, he/we went on and on all the way through. we always get off at the same stop, but I usually jump on the bus home from there, while I've noticed he waits for the next train that goes to our a.m. station...since ours was running a bit late, I decided to stay and wait for the train as well. chatter chatter chatter whilst waiting. just far too amusing - thought would (still think might) burst at prospect of June hearing about this tomorrow morning! ha! if i get to tell her, that is, as they both usually turn up at the same time, about 30secs before the train turns up

anyhoo, when he first began to speak more animatedly, thought for sure he must be gay, much to my surprise...but towards the end as we said goodbye, I actually thought he might fancy me. that, or thought I might be a fun friend, which would be fine by me! he just asked me OODLES of questions...interesting...as well as asked if I got out much at the w/end. also when we parted at the station, he asked if I had a long walk home (though I had already told him where I lived - when he asked, mind!). he's not fanciable, but I sure wouldn't say no to a local friend, since I haven't got any. when I said 'have a lovely evening, see you tomorrow', he v happily said, 'yes YES, see you tomorrow!' bless

he mentioned several times that he loves, LOVES I tell you, Berlin; must investigate if big gay community in Berlin...

my work is done here

rail connections, part3

June and I are getting on like a house on fire on the trains each morning...makes the time fly right by

perhaps it was the sun, maybe the outfit I was wearing, or just knowing I have a day off tomorrow (yeah!), but today I said 'MorNEENING' (yes - sing-songy) to black coat (who no longer wears the coat in such fabulous weather). I was afraid June might fall over, it was bad enough she caught her breath loudly and slapped her hand to her mouth in a Janice-style 'Oh My God' gesture...I told her she must stop, or he was going to notice and think I fancied him. I don't. I just sorta felt it was my/our duty to subtly remind him that he sees us twice a day, every day of our lives (at the mo, anyway), and it wouldn't hurt to acknowledge such

I'd hoped to catch the cute grey/spikey haired, bespectacled boy this morning, since I was so early; no joy...

I had to run for my train home this evening...I didn't like it. I'm in no shape at all to be doing such things; thank god I no longer smoke. bought some new, painful shoes (and changed into immediately) at lunch today, so that didn't help things move along any quicker. The lovely older chap who sometimes smiles at me with a mild 'alright?' saw me running and held the train door, bless him. I babbled on about never being so late, he just smiled and probably thought I was a big fat goon for breathing and sweating like I was smack-dab in the midst of running the London Marathon...

rail connections, part2

black coat (as noted previously) turned up yesterday - with a LEAP even - without his black coat. I thought June was going to silently fall over...funny how she thinks just like me with regards to our fellow transporters

today black coat came without the coat AND in a light-coloured shirt. shocking. he still does not acknowledge me (us), of course...he's very slim without that coat. he should be without it more often

gave June some arsenal trading cards for her 10yr old son...said hiya to one of going-home commuters...nearly told the guy at my evening station 'nice haircut, by the way' after his very huge messy large hair (and facial) disappeared...i chickend out, though. probably the american accent that keeps me from it (darn it)

have made passing-chums with my local station agent...

rail connections

I made a new friend yesterday...er, new acquaintance? in a land where people don't speak to each other unless there is a good reason (not faulting it - I like it), I've recently thrown caution to the proverbial wind, and spoken to some of my fellow daily commuters (scary)

There's one woman who takes my train each morning - it's a small station, so there's only 3 of us who are there faithfully each day; there are two others who are there every now and then.

A few weeks ago, I caught the eye of said fellow-female commuter (we shall call her June), and we ended up smiling and saying Good Morning a few times after - one day she even came over and offered me a piece of chewing gum - amazing! Nice lady, but we didn't really speak much...

A couple of days ago, the sun decided to come out, which of course puts everyone in a slightly better mood. June began to chat with me while we were waiting, and we ended up sitting together on the train and chitter chattering all the way to her stop - she's lovely! Funny how you've no idea how someone will be - or expect them to be quite different - until you actually make an effort to find out.

She too found the non-speaking-commuting rule amusing (although a native Londoner) and we discussed our fellow station-friends, and how we seemed invisible to them. A few days prior, I'd had a brief moment where I felt like a complete idiot, after briefly speaking to one of the sometimers and he looked at me as if he had no idea who I was, and didn't see me nearly 5 days of each week!

I mentioned to June that she hadn’t been at the train one day a few weeks prior, and I’d almost worried…she laughed and said that surely our fellow commuters would notice my absence over the next two days, and ask her where I was. Right.

The day before June and I started chatting, I'd got brave by also speaking to one of my going-home travellers (completely different clientele on my evening commute, them), lamenting about nearly being late and missing the train, etc. That chap actually smiled at me today, and held the train door open for me. But I digress...

Same day I spoke to him, I also asked a question of Black Coat Bloke, who is every day at my morning station; he, June, and I are the only steadfast visitors. He never speaks, never smiles, never changes his expression in any way. He always seems to saunter up the stairs to the platform without a care in the world at the very last minute, nearly every day; I always wonder how he manages to never miss the train - does he know something I don't? does he live opposite or next door?

He also always wears a nice suit and very heavy black coat, as observed June in our conversation about how unapproachable he appears. I told her how I'd spoken to him the previous morning, to ask how he'd got home the last couple of days...he and I also take the same train home each day (not that he'd notice), and due to the weather, it hadn't run and I had a hell of a long-time sorting out how to - and ultimately getting - home. He was quite happy to offer various suggestions, and even smiled as he told me. I was v surprised. (of course, he’s not acknowledged my presence since)

June and I sat together and chatted the next day as well, which made the time fly right by, mostly discussing transport, transport rates, the evil of transport...and the weather, of course! I mentioned to her a little monthly column in the morning Metro about commuter love connections. What fun! We laughed about how if one of us did one for the other at our little station, it wouldn't be too difficult sussing out who'd said what. We discussed placing a note about how Black Coat didn't need to wear his black coat each day, and perhaps he should smile once in a while, and at least acknowledge that we all see each other, twice a day, about 250 days per year.

There's a cute boy at my station who takes the train going the other way every now and then...I've only seen him twice, when I've been running quite early, as his train comes much earlier than mine. He's rather fetching, and quirky-looking, with good hair, and more importantly, good shoes. I nearly spoke to him yesterday...but perhaps instead I should make a listing in next month's Metro Commuter Love Connection...