Traveling outside of rush hour on the train can often be a relaxing experience. Not it seems if your journey is to take you from Waterloo to Andover. Yesterday I went to record and photograph the sculptor working on the Sir Keith Park statue. Having already read the metro on the Colchester to London train I tucked into a history book on Rome only to be distracted by feeling a sense of deja vu – I could hear some Canadians talking about the stories I’d already read. At first it was odd but then I realized , rather annoyingly, one of the party of three was determined to read the metro newspaper out loud to the group. This was however nothing on the scale of punishment I was going to be put through on my return journey to London.
A young middle class mother and her two toddlers were sat adjacent to me in the quiet zone. Now I hadn’t deliberately aimed to be in the quiet zone but once I was settled I realized it was an ideal opportunity to catch up on sleep – this was the plan but very quickly I realized it wasn’t a viable option given how noisy the two young children were. Not being a parent I dismissed my initial annoyance at their noise, that was until the mother starting encouraging – whilst we are all sat in the quiet zone – her children to practice singing. This was all happening whilst the younger of the two girls was standing on the seats, with mum encouraging the continued ‘fun’. I resisted temptation to request for a more socially aware approach to child management (in the style of a recent trip to Lincoln where I had to offer feedback over a poor standard of coffee) so for an hour had to endure the noise. Mum did try and calm the children down towards the end of the journey with a classic game of I SPY but this didn’t entertain the oldest child who went off and found a man with an IPHONE on the train – in which she persuaded him to access some games. The mother found this amusing, and without apologizing to the man merely said that she ‘does this all the time’.
Now I’m no parent but I do think encouraging some social discipline into young children is probably a prudent long-term move – the next time I have to endure a family like that in the quiet zone I might just have to offer that feedback.
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Friday, 4 June 2010
Lost Beer and Lunch
Yesterday's 07:45am was canceled and the 08:00 was 10 or maybe 16 minutes late so most of us made our way to platform 2 for to get on 08:02. 08:02 came and went and the driver announced that the train was going to be held to allow for the 08:00 to pass through. This was the moment everyone dashed back onto platform 3 but in my joining of the exodus an asda bag containing morning picked fresh salad, a hunk of cheese, some bread and a can of Becks left my company.
I realised about half an hour later but what was even more annoying was that the driver had got it wrong and it was his train, the one with my lunch and few passengers which set off to London first.....
Not an ideal start to what was otherwise a pleasant day - in which I met Director Noel Clarke and produced a webchat with presenter to the stars Vicky Letch.
I realised about half an hour later but what was even more annoying was that the driver had got it wrong and it was his train, the one with my lunch and few passengers which set off to London first.....
Not an ideal start to what was otherwise a pleasant day - in which I met Director Noel Clarke and produced a webchat with presenter to the stars Vicky Letch.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Back in the Game
I’ve not been commuting into London on a daily basis now for several weeks and the new modus operandi of being a freelance worker is proving a good experience. Little known to my sus-chef at home but there have been a couple of trips to the exquisite burger feasting establishments of Liverpool St already this week, last night’s being totally Hoegaarden induced – in mitigation it was my friend Jonas who suggested a drink and having spent most of the day in the flagship Bravissimo bra retail store it felt like the manly thing to do.
Following a good AM shoot this morning with the legendary lighting cameraman Carlos I hit another establishment, so confident of its offering it calls itself ‘The Legend’ - and seriously this East London barbers is worthy of its name. Yasmin didn’t whip out the fire on my nose and ears this time but he did works of art on my receding hairline and then finished me off with a good old-fashioned hot towel. Feeling a little fatigued after walking through a sea of fine food options at Whitecross market I was lured in by the third Starbucks I saw. It was however a good move as only last night I’d been studying the label of a Ice Cold Latte and the main man in Starbucks gave me one free of charge.
Confident with my replenished caffeine supplies I saw a Maker’s Mark promo stand so went to try a whiskey with ginger – nice and refreshing although perhaps one questions the merit of a whisky which you need to add a mixer with to enjoy.
You see all sort’s of different aspects of life by living outside 9 til 5, for one I had no idea that you could get a train from Liverpool Street to Peterborough, thankfully it stopped off at Colchester…..
Following a good AM shoot this morning with the legendary lighting cameraman Carlos I hit another establishment, so confident of its offering it calls itself ‘The Legend’ - and seriously this East London barbers is worthy of its name. Yasmin didn’t whip out the fire on my nose and ears this time but he did works of art on my receding hairline and then finished me off with a good old-fashioned hot towel. Feeling a little fatigued after walking through a sea of fine food options at Whitecross market I was lured in by the third Starbucks I saw. It was however a good move as only last night I’d been studying the label of a Ice Cold Latte and the main man in Starbucks gave me one free of charge.
Confident with my replenished caffeine supplies I saw a Maker’s Mark promo stand so went to try a whiskey with ginger – nice and refreshing although perhaps one questions the merit of a whisky which you need to add a mixer with to enjoy.
You see all sort’s of different aspects of life by living outside 9 til 5, for one I had no idea that you could get a train from Liverpool Street to Peterborough, thankfully it stopped off at Colchester…..
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
The end of the line?
This Friday will be my final journey to London working on a full time PAYE basis - (although I think I've got to travel to Bristol and back.)
I'm going to be self employed once again, in the short term I'll be putting my desire to have a Conservative MP as my number one priority. I'm also going to make time to PR the fine work of the Woodland Trust and Colchester's Archaeological Trust. Longer term plans are yet to be firmed up but one thing is for certain the world of 9-5 shall be no more - dynamic, progressive companies, individuals and organisations should join with me in embracing this. In doing so there will be more seats on trains, less traffic on roads and a happier nation I'm sure.
I'm going to be self employed once again, in the short term I'll be putting my desire to have a Conservative MP as my number one priority. I'm also going to make time to PR the fine work of the Woodland Trust and Colchester's Archaeological Trust. Longer term plans are yet to be firmed up but one thing is for certain the world of 9-5 shall be no more - dynamic, progressive companies, individuals and organisations should join with me in embracing this. In doing so there will be more seats on trains, less traffic on roads and a happier nation I'm sure.
Saturday, 30 January 2010
A young man editing
An evening ago we were about two minutes from arrival into Colchester and I noticed the departure crowd had entered my editing suite aka the floor outside the toilet. I was fully aware of the train's progress past the tragic overly developed Mile End when suddenly a women learnt forward and pugnaciously addressed me with "excuse me we want to get off". Before she had even delivered her words I could sense she was uneasy with my being on the floor so I had a pre recorded response ready and as sharp as a freshly sharpened pencil I instantly hit back with "its ok I'm getting out too" - sure enough I was on my feet and had opened the door of the train with plenty of time to spare....
An interesting week in which I noted being described as a 'young man' by multiple people - mainly the train ticket inspectors but a few other randoms as well. Odd. Spent Friday evening at the Colchester Roman Feast - in aide of the Save the Circus Fund:
www.romancircus.org
Just finished a day long shooting in Wandsworth, for the Conservatives. Fantastic part of London.
An interesting week in which I noted being described as a 'young man' by multiple people - mainly the train ticket inspectors but a few other randoms as well. Odd. Spent Friday evening at the Colchester Roman Feast - in aide of the Save the Circus Fund:
www.romancircus.org
Just finished a day long shooting in Wandsworth, for the Conservatives. Fantastic part of London.
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
A snoring women and carnage at Stratford
My return to London after the Christmas festivities kicked off fantastically with the 07:30 train doors not working so we all had to leave the train and get on a later one.
I was lucky to get a seat but it was almost as if someone was playing a prank on me - I swear I've never heard anyone, let alone a women, snoring like a monster. It was outrageously loud and 'it' was right in my face. There was some eye contact with fellow commuters and a couple even relocated away from the noise. I was impressed with my seat tho and proceeded to read my book about the Roman invasion of Britain.
The train stopped at Chelmsford by which time people were standing, there was a minor verbal altercation between a rude thirty something who was unhappy at the speed by which a gent had not moved down the down to enable him to get sufficient standing space. I could hear moaning about the standing conditions but I was one of the lucky seated ones.
On arrival at Stratford (and we've been here before) there were crazy numbers of people on the platform. I must have moved about ten feet in ten minutes. Punishing and I was already 'late'. Eventually I got on the second central line train which passed and found my way to Barbican. The return journey also involved congestion on the platform. Not ideal.
I was lucky to get a seat but it was almost as if someone was playing a prank on me - I swear I've never heard anyone, let alone a women, snoring like a monster. It was outrageously loud and 'it' was right in my face. There was some eye contact with fellow commuters and a couple even relocated away from the noise. I was impressed with my seat tho and proceeded to read my book about the Roman invasion of Britain.
The train stopped at Chelmsford by which time people were standing, there was a minor verbal altercation between a rude thirty something who was unhappy at the speed by which a gent had not moved down the down to enable him to get sufficient standing space. I could hear moaning about the standing conditions but I was one of the lucky seated ones.
On arrival at Stratford (and we've been here before) there were crazy numbers of people on the platform. I must have moved about ten feet in ten minutes. Punishing and I was already 'late'. Eventually I got on the second central line train which passed and found my way to Barbican. The return journey also involved congestion on the platform. Not ideal.
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Sleeping rough in the Snow
Six hours ago I was being picked up from Colchester's high street having spent 12 hours in the snow and temperatures of -3. This was undoubtedly one of the most punishing experiences of my life, and my friend Will who was my street sleeping partner shared these sentiments. We rocked up with multiple layers, cardboard and sleeping bags, despite wearing three pairs of socks within minutes I could no longer feel my toes. Our bed for the night was inside the doorway of a British Heart Foundation shop positioned not very far away from the Colchester SOS night bus - which was to form in part some of the evenings entertainment.
In amongst the good things which happened we were offered just under £40 for our efforts (on top of the £1100 already raised in sponsorship), were brought some left over roast dinners, offered biscuits, a portion of chips, a coffee, a tea, some hot chocolate. It was all good natured stuff until the early hours when people started leaving the clubs. From about three onwards it was so loud, so many young ladies screaming and shouting "come on Chelsea you need to stand up", "thats it we are so finished", and a few classics such as "fuck you". We had a couple of strange people questioning the merits of our cause, one drunk (rather worryingly wearing nurses uniform) accused us of not being 'for real' because, in amongst several things, we were only doing it for a night. There were a couple of very young lads whom started off by holding the view that all homeless people were the product of their own self-making and that they 'should have done better at school' - by the end of our discussion they had been won over and went to donate cash to the SOS bus. Then there was a very angry young man with what appeared to be a lovely girlfriend, whom had to apologise for him, who accused me of being a fake because I 'was sleeping'. I did point out that it was gone one in the morning and that I was tired.
We met several homeless people, one of which I'd seen around Colchester many times and often wondered what his story was. Shaun, a heavy drinker and on heroin, had been on the streets for five years and he was looking for 'a break'. A friend came to see us at some mad time close to five AM by which time the police had done a sterling job in driving/organising for everyone to get home. The amount of late-teenage girls wearing backless dresses and high heals was incredible and no doubt like I they will currently be in doors in a world of pain.
In amongst the good things which happened we were offered just under £40 for our efforts (on top of the £1100 already raised in sponsorship), were brought some left over roast dinners, offered biscuits, a portion of chips, a coffee, a tea, some hot chocolate. It was all good natured stuff until the early hours when people started leaving the clubs. From about three onwards it was so loud, so many young ladies screaming and shouting "come on Chelsea you need to stand up", "thats it we are so finished", and a few classics such as "fuck you". We had a couple of strange people questioning the merits of our cause, one drunk (rather worryingly wearing nurses uniform) accused us of not being 'for real' because, in amongst several things, we were only doing it for a night. There were a couple of very young lads whom started off by holding the view that all homeless people were the product of their own self-making and that they 'should have done better at school' - by the end of our discussion they had been won over and went to donate cash to the SOS bus. Then there was a very angry young man with what appeared to be a lovely girlfriend, whom had to apologise for him, who accused me of being a fake because I 'was sleeping'. I did point out that it was gone one in the morning and that I was tired.
We met several homeless people, one of which I'd seen around Colchester many times and often wondered what his story was. Shaun, a heavy drinker and on heroin, had been on the streets for five years and he was looking for 'a break'. A friend came to see us at some mad time close to five AM by which time the police had done a sterling job in driving/organising for everyone to get home. The amount of late-teenage girls wearing backless dresses and high heals was incredible and no doubt like I they will currently be in doors in a world of pain.
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