Train folk

Public transport is a very strange place, especially when you're in a routine and tend to be on the same service every day. I say service, I use Arriva so service isn't a word they're familiar with but stay with me.

Most people get into a real routine, myself included, I generally sit in the same place every day (on the way there, the way back is a nightmare) and more often than not, the same people sit around you. I occasionally vary and if someone, some... non regular is in my space it's no big deal. However, I have seen people with genuinely no idea what to do if they can't sit where they always do. Panic stricken looks the works. Got to love a routine!

For all intents you spend at least an hour sat round the same people, weekday in weekday out, but chances are you will have never have said a word to them. it's quite odd.

After a while you start noticing if people aren't there, even though you don't even know their name. For example, the guy who is the most conversational, with himself, on the whole train hasn't been on this week. I do find myself wondering why! Not that I'm overly gutted there's a nutter missing, but you notice these things.

It gets more... odd (for lack of a better word) when you pass one of these people out of context. By that I mean, not on the train. There's a moment of mutual recognition, as if, oh ait, I know him/her. Then a realisation... wait no I don't. By which time awkwardness has already occurred.

To be fair it's not always like that. Many months ago I left my bright white headphones (classy!) on the train, I was unaware of this until the following morning back on the arriva express. But before I could moan, whine or whinge a guy, who I recognised as detailed above popped his head round the seat, headphones in hand. Hero!

Still don't know his name though, but he is sat, at this moment in the carriage in front of me!

Train folk are also a very diverse bunch, yesterday for example a somewhat robust guy sat next to me who basically then squashed me against the wall of the train using nothing but the size of... him. Today? I have a Chinese student listening to Daft Punk songs while an older lady reads Dan Brown almost sat on his lap...

Of course all this only applies to the mornings, in the nights the shambles that is arriva crams you into the smallest space possible, then gets you home 15 mins late. Suppose the standing is good for your legs though.

People watching - gotta love Public Transport

I'll start by confirming the fact I'm a strong Labour supporter, can't remember if I've said that before, but I have now. This standing has been reinforced by almost every action our wonderful new coalition government has chosen to bestow on us. I used to 'not mind' the Lib Dems before a combination of them using very strong arm tactics in the last election and selling themselves out for the slightest bit of power for their 'kingmaker' leader Clegg.

You may be thinking this has nothing to do with the title and you're 40% right but there is a link bare with me. 

Every morning I take the train to work, which according to the condems I'm too lazy to do, and every morning the train is full to the absolute rafters (If it had rafters) of people commuting from the valleys line to Cardiff. IDS can flock off as can every Con and Lib Dem in my eyes!

But back to the point, this very full train does give the opportunity to carry out one of lifes lost arts, people watching. Now I don't look classy going to work, today I have on a 10ish year old Welsh rugby top 'n' jeans, but you do wonder where some of these people are going. There's a good number of people in shirts, ties, trousers the usual. There's women in what I suppose you'd call business suits etc. But where oh where is the man in the addidas tracksuit off? Is there a a job that requires you to be that chavvy?

What about the woman at the end of the train who appears to have some kind of hair rollers still in. Proper old school hair rollers like I've seen my mother use dozens of times, but even then not for 15 years! Is now really the time to be doing your hair anyway?

There's various selections of people, some like myself, would rather be left alone to do whatever I'm doing (the computer helps, I think people assume I'm watching porn or something). There are people, like the guy opposite me who keeps trying to make eye contact - no chance Pedro, who feel the need to try and pass the 50-whatever minutes by making new friends. 

Every now and again we get strong religious types who will wander person to person, taking full advantage of the captive audience to try and convert all the heathens to God, and stop the likes of me sitting round watching porn 9I really don't, I'm writing this aint I!).

Students going between Cardiff and Treforest typically stick out a mile. There's a bunch of guys standing by the middle carriage doors now, if it looks like a student, and smells like a student... then it probably is a student! But that's harsh, I shouldn't generalise!!

To be fair today is Friday, so there's a good percentage less ties. Clearly Cardiff offices operate a dress down Friday rule, which just means you can have an open collar. Not really dressing down to any real degree. I remember being told by a mate who works in a office with that very policy, he was dressing down today and he loved it. He turned up for lunch looking exactly the same. I always picture days like that as like school non-uniform days. But I'm lucky enough to have a 'wear whatever' policy, so maybe I just don't appreciate it enough. 

But to be fair most people on here are normal looking enough... maybe those are the most worrying ones....

While I have your attention, all you iPhone users out there, was recommended a superb game app yesterday. Get your behind to the app store and have as search for 'Game Dev Story' simple but so engrossing. Basically you should be able to guess the type of game from the name, but with but cutsey 16 bit graphics it all works a charm. Much recommended.

Only downside is I played it quite a bit yesterday and then said bye bye iPhone battery. I need to get one of those battery pack things, any donations to my paypal account!!

Cyalaterz

Last Stop - Short Story

It was early, “it was always early about this time, funnily enough” he thought to himself. He lifted himself out of bed and walked to the bathroom. With a quick tug he turned on the light and examined himself in the mirror.

Within 20 minutes he was at the front door, ready to go. He locked the door of the little flat and walked the half mile to the train station. He checked his watch, he had a good 20 minutes until it was due, he had time. He passed joggers, dog walkers, the  acted like they didn’t even see him, even if they did at all. Dogs would usually give him a second glance, but would be dragged off by their owners before they ever reacted. It was a shame really, he loved dogs.

He walked past the shop to his left. The owner out the front instructing a paper boy on the fastest route. He would have loved to have stopped, but that’s not what he did. He had to keep on going, after all he had a train to catch.

The path to the train station was quiet, after all it was early, not many people were out of bed and commuting at this time. Thoughts of plans filled his head, he’d arranged a meal for after work with a young lady, a friend but maybe more. He wondered what she was doing now. He sighed and ploughed on.

The train was at the station now so he walked straight on. Found the same seat he found every day and sat down. Only a few minutes later the train pulled away and the journey began. It was all very routine but it was his routine.

He looked around the train recognising faces he knew, faces he’d seen years ago. Still carrying on their daily routines as if nothing ever changed. They’d become older, yes, but their faces were still full on life, while he felt so drained. How he envied them for that.

Three of four stops had passed, people had come and gone. He’d remained anonymous in his seat, people watching to pass the time. Mainly the train was full of workers, if anyone selling awful ties and gray suits were to come on, they’d make a fortune he joked to himself. That was his first smile of the day!

The train stopped between two small stations at a signal. It hadn’t always done so, sometimes people would take a risk, a chance, but not since that day. Oh no, now people stuck to the rules. The signal changed and the train pulled away.

He’d leave the train here, this is where it happened. The thoughts of the noise and the screeching came to him once again and he felt saddened. He thought of the moment he felt something strike him, how he’d begged and prayed it wouldn’t happen, but there was nothing anyone could have done.

He closed his eyes as the world started to fade, this was it for him, the final stop on the route. As he drifted into black he opened his eyes for a last look around.  Said goodbye to the people, “I’ll see you tomorrow” he thought.

As he left, he’d swear someone turned to look at him, just for a second..

An early morning jog

I'm shocked but somehow not surprised how unfit I've become. It's been a while since I did anything like training, my body has once again conspired against me to ensure the waistline expands.

I  was looking in quite good shape, for me, up until about 7/8 weeks ago, covering 6 or 7 miles at a time in the gym with no real hassle, ready for a 10k building up nicely for my 2nd attempt at a half marathon (all in aid of Velindre) then late one Saturday night I developed a pain in my side, a trip to the hospital and an operation later and I was sans appendix.

This left me unable to stand without looking like Quasimodo for weeks, thanks to a few complications, unable to train for longer. In fact to this day I'm still on doctors advice to 'take it easy' after my knee also went a bit funny moving house.

But this morning my current condition was brought into sharp focus, I was sauntering round the corner near Pentrebach train station when I saw the train pull in. Panic kicked in and I broke into a full on sprint (thankfully you can't really see me running from the platform). Thanks to an understanding train guard, who luckily did manage to spot me I made it, but I was shocked that a sprint of what could me no more than 150m left me absolutely knackered. Yes, it was uphill and twisty (the way up was along a disabled access ramp so went round a bit) but I know 3 months ago I would have done it faster, and been able to speak when I got on the train.

This has made me think, I need to get back into it, I can see already I've put on weight and that's a bad start, and somewhere I've been before (18 1/2 stone at my peak, and I look back at photos.. aghast sometimes). So first chance I get, back to the gym it is. Yes I know some people will think if it's only weight is the issue, diet. I'm of the opinion dieting doesn't work, or at least doesn't work alone, just as exercise wouldn't. Dieting is essentially partially starving yourself of certain things in order to force your body into a reaction, I'd rather eat properly (not stupidly) and work my body too, that's what we were designed to do, that is what I shall do.

Not tomorrow night though, tomorrow night I've gone and acquired nice seats to watch my blessed homeland get beat at football by Bulgaria, at the 'lovely' Lego Brick Stadium. Should be a good laugh and a few pints. But after that... gym all the way!

This time next year, I'll deliberately be late, just so I can sprint to the train and show it doesn't bother me! OK I wont, that would be stupid but I know what I mean! Hopefully next year I'll be able to do what I planned this, Swansea Bay 10k, Cardiff 10k, Cardiff Half Marathon. I'll be making my comeback to sports hopefully on the 24th in the Welsh dodgeball open, I haven't been arsed to sort the entry yet, but it's on my to do list. GO HOFFMEISTERS!

I've always had these crazy ideas of wanting to do more as well, to do exciting things. The woman I sit next to in work is climbing Kilimanjaro next year and it sounds horrible, cold, hard, etc and I find myself borderline jealous, I'd love to do that. I've always wanted to do the 24 hour version of the three peaks. I could never do any of these in my current condition of course, I can't even run for the bloody train,and one thing I'm not getting is any younger, but they are things I want to do.

But even the longest journey must start from where you stand as Lao Tzu once said, and he wasn't a stupid man. Stay tuned to this blog if you want to know how I'm doing, or even if you don't I'm not about to turn the blog into some kind of rocky style training montage. I'll still write about whatever's on my mind at the time... with no discernible pattern or structure...