Scratch

Here you will find older scratches, musings and other detritus that once were located on the front pages, but have now faded.

Filed away here to collect dust and cobwwwebs in perpetuity, links may break, facts may change and data may corrupt.

On occasion I may come down here to tidy, but for the most, I prefer to leave the past where it lies.

 

Commuting

Commuting. Everyone does it yet few people like it. I however, am reasonably ambivalent to it. As I travel by Tube (upper or lowercase 'T'?) I do not have the responsibility of driving, but at the sacrifice of control.

This is a trade off I am happy with.

I no longer need to renew road-tax or to fill up with petrol. Similarly, I avoid sitting in a traffic jam on a hot and humid day, watching my money drip out the exhaust filling the air with fumes whilst cyclists do their best to dive through the gaps in traffic taking my chrome with them. Conversely, I need to queue up to get a season ticket, albeit once a year. I get to sit in hot humid carriages packed tighter than a can of sardines with no knowledge as to my destiny, but a more than ample knowledge of some stranger's underarm/shopping/small child.

I have no ability to control whether I will get to my destination on time, or even at all (admittedly you don't in a car, but at last resort you can get out and run, which is slightly more difficult stuck in a sealed and electrified tin can beneath the ground). If its really not working then I can't get in, and whilst my boss may be annoyed, if I can't I can't and he knows that. Whilst my job is important to me, I'm not a Doctor, so no-one will die. I'll just have to work harder/later another day. With a car there is little excuse. Finally, whilst I can go anywhere anytime with a car, I don't need to shell out extra cash if my tube breaks down to a mechanic I suspect of not only stiffing me but also the tax man.

I think it is all down to perspective. Given its size and scale, and taking into account chronic under investment over the years, I do think the underground is a rather good invention, and IMHO, it certainly beats camel trains. Moreso for the fact I couldn't store my camel properly as I don't have a garden, nor am I willing to pay for a parking space at work... but I digress.

I am of the mind that people pick whichever public transport system suits them, whether it be for financial reasons, time or just ease. I pick the Tube for a combination of thre hree, and for 95% of the time I can't complain. Given people who get the tube do so because they personally either prefer the tube or find it easier and don't want the hassle of walking/busing/car-sharing/driving, it seems a shame to go to all that effort to reduce your commute and then have someone else spoil the hard work done by others. (Ok. if you really hate commuting move closer to work. If you can afford it don't move and give up your job. If you can't afford it pick the lesser of all the evils and stop whining.)

I think I think the trick to surviving is not to worry about the journey, thats why they pay the driver. If its empty, simply sit/stand back, find a happy place, read, snooze, listen to music or just wait it out. If its busy and heaving, then stand still, and wait it out. Although not the most comfortable, it won't lat forever. Usually I find for not more than 20 minutes per "hold". There is light at the end of the tunnel - admittedly its White City, but hey its a start. I also know that if its really bad, I can always get above ground and get a cab (I realise this isn't feasible for some, but thats part of your commute. I live where I do mainly because it was cheap, but also because if I need to get a cab I can and it won't break the bank.)

On days like today with both weather and signalling problems its a bit more difficult, so I tend to cheat slightly and move my happy place from the newspaper and heres how: Close your eyes, tip your head back and imagine you are on a beach in the south of France. The heat, humidity and sweat are all similar. The light from the flourescent tube will substitute for the sun whilst the insane screaming of the foreign exchange students...well I think you get the idea.

I'm not saying its a ride in the park, well not unless your the Queen, sometimes its easier said than done. Even this evening it wasn't enough to stop me wanting to wrap the guitar round the little idiots head. Nor was it enough to stop me getting annoyed at being stuck just outside Shepard's Bush for 30 mins. And sure I had my non-productive, didn't make me feel better rant on the way home, but at the end of the day I was home. Albeit a bit warmer and a bit later, there was nothing really that bad about it - I got home safe, in one piece and managed to read several chapters of my book. Its like having a personal chaffeur that almost drops to your door, the difference being your sharing him/her with hundreds of others in a slightly battered stretched limo.

For the 5% of the time when something "annoying" happens, or someone steps on my foot, hits me with a briefcase or just stands in the way, or on the occassion I get delayed by 30 minutes, its not enough to make me want to start getting a bus. Or a car. Or a camel for that matter. Well maybe a camel.

Just my 2c worth.

3 Aug 2004 21:25 | (0) comments | London | Thoughts

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