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It’s been six months now since I forsook my car to become a full time rail commuter. I’m pleased to say it has paid some benefits on the weight front and also in toning up the legs, both of which are important considerations now that the onset of menopause is on the horizon.
You may recall, some weeks back I blogged about my search for the perfect Commuter Handbag. Well, I’m glad to say I now own three. I’ve also mastered, partially at least, the art of applying makeup on the train. I can skedaddle down the hill to the train station in less than 10 minutes and I have acquired the perfect commuter rain coat which means I don’t need to struggle with umbrellas on my daily jaunts.
But it is not all good news. No, indeed. I am learning the hard way that certain hazards are more difficult to overcome.
Forewarned is forearmed so, if you are sitting comfortably, here goes with my list of the top five commuting mistakes to avoid
- Eye contact with the wild, the drunk, and the obviously deranged – especially if they are seated close to you. This always leads to bother and fellow commuters will do nothing to assist should you find yourself in difficulty.
- Seats that slope towards the floor – these can find you slipping onto the lap of a fellow passenger. Such intimacy is not always desirable or indeed welcome.
- Tweeting without due regard to whether the passenger seated next to you can read your screen. This is especially important if you have multiple identities.
- Taking auto-announcements seriously. ‘Change here’ is not necessarily an invitation to release your inner transgender god(dess).
- Sleeping. But if you must, make you sure your sleepwear is modest.
And there you have it. I hope these tips may keep you from going off the rails. If I’ve missed anything, let me know!
Oh yeah – also sitting near someone on the phone to either her (real) mother or her errant boyfriend. No concept of how loud and how intimate they are on a bus full of strangers. Only this with ipods on are safe!
Sleeping – always best not to droop onto the person beside you. I am usually drooped upon, have never drooped on anyone else yet! Dribbling and snoring are two other possible embarrassments – again I DON’T THINK I’ve done either, but I have heard others (men) doing both.And other passengers tittering!!!
How I wish we had rail here. Though it would be nonsensical (word?) for my daily commute it would be wonderful for so many other “going to the city” trips. I think I would like the hands free commute – cell phone, reading, twittering, FB’ing, lazy rides home. My spouse used to do the driving until he became all high falootin’ and modernized with his own crackberry. Now he wants me to drive and I can’t chat, tweet or surf. Bah Humbug! Thus – enjoy the time well spent / doing as you please on the open rails.