Reserved train seats

 Today I travelled between Grantham and Wakefield. It was on a fast train that took only 48 minutes. Unfortunately the train arrived half an hour late.

I had reserved a seat on the train, mostly just to be sure of having a seat, but the train is pretty empty especially given that it was running late and late. Trains often have tried extra passengers that have arrived early for the next one I may as well get themselves, the weather going a bit sooner..

Only one seat at the table of four was reserved, and it was the seat I had reserved. Only one seat was occupied. It was the seat that I had reserved.

As all three of the seats were completely free, available and not reserved I simply used one of the other three, not at all sure why the guy sat in  sole reserved seat, preferred that one over all overs, lol.

And of course it didn’t matter, I had only wanted to make sure I had a seat and I had three.

Across the border into Yorkshire, and at Doncaster, there was an announcement. As the train was already running late, It would do no harm to make it later, so other trains were being allowed to go in front of us. Lol.

Up the hill in Wakefield and I made good time. I was meant to be half an hour early and I was about 20 minutes late and that was all okay.

Fortunately, I have told my team that aiming for somewhere between nine and 10 would be fine and that’s lucky for me because it’s me that was 20 minutes late. Lol.

Of course, it grated a little at first, that I got up early. made my child leave the house early, got my child’s father to come round to supervise my child so that he didn’t have to leave the house early, only to find that there was plenty of time with the train being so late, but I did have use of the Wi-Fi and I did do some work and it’s a really short and convenient journey so it was all okay.

Reserved seat man got off at Doncaster to change for Sheffield. I went to get off at Wakefield and was hoping to get off at the next doors along by turning left at the carriage, but there was a dog occupying the entire width of the corridor. Not only do I don’t like dogs and this was clearly not a service dog of any kind it was a big fluffy teddy bear dog, so I took the other way.

Coming back my train was on time. I felt sorry for the guy who just missed the train to Birmingham. He ran for it just after the doors had closed. I expect he can catch another train later, but it was impressive. There is a train that goes all the way to Plymouth from Wakefield and presumably further north too, as it didn’t start at Wakefield.. then my train pulls in five minutes later. I quickly make my way to the correct zone for my carriage with my allocated seat because, it’s conscientious of me to take the seat that I have booked and not just sit somewhere that happens to be convenient for me. I made my way down to my allocated seats and it was occupied. once again the seat beside it was not reserved, my reserve seat was occupied and not only was the man refusing to even acknowledge my presence he had also filled the seat next to him (the reserved seat he was occupying) with his coat. so I asked him “is this your coat” and he reluctantly moved it and he kept legs splayed so that he filled not just the (my) seat that he was occupied which but also part of the seat that I  now occupied because it was next to my reserved seat, and not reserved. He didn’t look up as I departed at Grantham and I could see from the display but the seat was further reserved from Grantham onwards too. So presumably this scenario would you played out yet again as he stared fixedly at his phone, pretending not to see the people around him. I’m not in the least bit fazeed by the fact he was sitting in a clearly marked reserve seat, I just simply could not have done this. I would have too ashamed. i guess has no shame..

My ticket was checked just minutes before I departed, and there was a man arguing the toss with the ticket inspector, because he had a ticket to Nottingham and Didn’t want to pay the difference, and yet I would want to get off the train at my stop, and I didn’t want to appear to be absconding when this inspector was mere seconds away. I have my ticket out already. I’ve had it out and ready all along. I do appear to be alone in doing this. I got off the train and it was absolutely pouring with rain so I’ve got wet paying for my car parking ticket and then I sit all wet in my car as I drove back and I wouldn’t of minded the drive even though I don’t like driving in rain I get my speed down And my wipers on and my heater, keeping the windscreen from misting up because speed by lorries be by spraying me of water, then cutting in close to me not allowing anything like the stopping distance you need in the rain like this and it’s that makes me dislike, driving home in the rain would be okay with it not exactly ecstatic about it but okay with it if I was just allowed to.

Honestly it’s great to get out.