The Adventurous Journey

Most People, when they leave a place, suffer a multitude of doubts of the kind “Did I turn the Gas off?” “Did I put the lights out?” “Did I leave the shower running?” “Did I lock the back door?” “Did I turn the grill/oven off?” etc., but me? As I sat on the train at Temple Meads my thoughts were “Did I brush my hair?” I still can’t remember if I did or nut but gave it a quick flick with the brush when I got into the office on the principle that it is better late than not at all!

To catalogue the series of incidents arising during my trip to the office, just to give you a smile (or make you blush).

Firstly, I left Bristol at 5:55 in order to get the bus at 6 am. Well, silly me, that was the times of the buses going on a weekend! During weekdays the times are 11 minutes past the hour so I had about fifteen minutes or so to wait. However, I did have the two letters to post so that got rid of one of the minutes. It was a lovely morning, seagulls flying around overhead making squawking noises as if I was an intruder on their territory (I told them I used to live there long before they came on the scene!) But it was a bit fresh and nippy. Although I was quite comfortable at the top, I did feel that I might be running a risk with regard to the nether regions so, as there was hardly anyone about – just the odd ca going by now and then – I undid my suitcase, took out the skirt I had been wearing all weekend and climbed into that, making the dress look like a blouse.

The bus came along on time and I caught a train at 6:52 so hadn’t long to wait. I bought a newspaper on the station and started on the cross word as soon as I was settled in, but must have dozed off for a while because the next thing I remember was waking up in a kind of foul smelling fog and seeing the man sat opposite me looking at me over the over the top of his glassed like a schoolmaster. As I still had my granny glasses on from doing the crossword I did likewise and for a few seconds or so we stared at each other over the tops of our specs, then I said just one word “Muesli” and he nodded in understanding. No doubt he was making a mental note to pop along to his local health shop as soon as he was able to enquire about some for itself, thinking if it was that potent it must be good!

I eventually got myself a coffee from the buffet and read my paper for a while. Then, just after Reading (Berkshire) I thought it might be advisable to spend a penny before arriving at Paddington and made my way along to the little cabin, only to find the lock didn’t work! The door would close all right but you couldn’t lock it – and by that time the train was full with people standing, several of them just outside the door, so naturally I thought that if they saw me go in then if anyone else came along someone would say “There’s someone in there”… but did they? No? The rotten lot. Half way through the operation the door was suddenly yanked open, only about six inches or so because I grabbed the handle as soon as I saw it move, but there was still one lucky chap just outside who saw me sitting on the pot! When I emerged a few minutes later this chap was `busy’ looking out of the window!

We got to Paddington just after 8:30 which wasn’t bad going really as we stopped at several stations. When I got down to the tube I saw a big blackboard with a notice chalked on it about a derailment at Neasden or somewhere causing delays and cancellations to the tubes! Strangely enough though a tube came along just afterwards and I found myself in the office before 9 am., and decided to start typing but then the typewriter mechanic arrived to see to my machine, so I got a coffee for both of us and had a natter instead!

Grace Russ - 24th April 1984