Winter of discontent
Another difficult journey into work. Train was absolutely packed by the time it reached my stop. Totally packed. You literally had to push – hard - the person in front of you to get on. Lots of tutting and sighing. Really – the journey to work has been awful the past three days.
I ended up very tightly sandwiched in the middle of a bunch of other commuters. Nothing to hold on to. But then, you didn’t need to hold on to anything as you are being literally propped up by people in front of, behind and to each of your sides. As the train picked up speed and started to rock as it rounded corners – we swayed as one group; a somewhat surreal experience. I even had my eyes half closed for part of it as the experience proved quite soporific. Everyone wearing huge jackets, scarves etc due to the very cold weather – I felt cocooned among this mass of people. As a single person, that’s probably the closest I get to other human beings these days! An odd thought.
And so I read on the BBC website that the temperature has kept dropping. Last night it got down to -12c (10 f) in Oxford and the big freeze continues. Even the fountains in Trafalgar Square have now frozen and in Wales, 6000 homes were without water as pipes froze.
Your journey makes me glad that I can still get a seat when I get on the tube in the mornings. Am starting to wonder how much colder it’s going to get – may be forced to go out and buy a proper warm winter coat if it’s going to get worse.
Vic
January 7, 2009 at 12:08 pm
I’ll stick with my golf cart as a means of transportation thank you!!!
Brrrrrrrrrr
Debby
January 7, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Vic – it didn’t used to be this bad. The journey home is OK, thankfully.
Debby – LOL! I love the way you and SB travel around on golf carts. For some crazy reason it reminds me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the workers travelling around on little vehicles! hehehe.
Milo
January 7, 2009 at 1:53 pm
@Vic: don’t bother. Couldn’t find one myself. Even tried eBay for a decent one, that at least covers my legs when I cycle (not that I’m doing that either these days).
@Milo: wow, the fountains have frozen, eh? The lake in the park was frozen too (will post pics tonight) and the ducks were sitting on the ice quacking madly.
lula
January 7, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I’m so glad I can travel to work by car. Even bus is not so bad as the route doesn’t get full of school people.
SCM
January 7, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I know I’ve said this before but it is so strange to be missing winter – I love it and would be having a whale of a time now! As it is, last night stayed at around 30 degrees till well into the morning, and today it is a ‘refreshing’ 23. If you need any extra scarves, I’ve got plenty I can send over!
Sven
January 7, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I typically enjoy the cold. That said, my reference for “cold” and what you are experiencing sound like two very different things
PaulSATX
January 7, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Lula – according to what I read, yeh. Been crazily cold hasn’t it?
SCM – you are lucky!
Sven – I like distinct seasons (which this winter is proving to be) so I don’t dislike winter. This one just seems to have gone on for ages and been very cold. We’re not out of the woods yet, either. High tomorrow is 3c. That’s considered pretty good these days!
Paul – I doubt you have too much to worry about down there in sunny Houston! Must be nice to have sunshine and warmth, for sure!
Milo
January 8, 2009 at 9:47 pm
It’s warmed up a bit in Leeds now, thank goodness. I remember when every winter would bring snow and ice – these days, it seems a rarity! (Yes, I know I sound about a hundred and three).
Daphne
January 8, 2009 at 10:38 pm
I can identify with the “packed like sardines” experience. SkyTrain in Vancouver (monorail vs. tube) is often like that from about 3pm-7pm. Trying to get out of downtown in the afternoon can be a chore. Not that I’m downtown all that often, being a fellow from the ‘burbs.
Ryan
January 10, 2009 at 8:19 am
Daphne – this cold spell seems to have gone on for aaaages. I think it’s coming to an end though, as of Monday.
Ryan – painful isn’t it?
Milo
January 10, 2009 at 11:17 pm
My journey is 20 minutes door to door with an 11 minute train ride with a walk either side. I always get a seat. It costs me a third of the cost of a ticket in London.
Are you jealous yet?!
Redhead
January 11, 2009 at 10:38 pm