Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Cattle market



It’s half term this week, and I was expecting the tube to be a bit quieter than normal, but nope, it is even worse than normal for some unknown reason. The last couple of days it has been a real squeeze to get on the tube and there have been lots of people grumbling about people not moving far enough into the carriage etc. I just find my little spot and try and ignore all that is going on around me. It does make me think that I would rather be somewhere other than on my way onto work though – on holiday, living a life of leisure, sleeping, that sort of thing. One can dream.

Sometimes I read the lovestruck column in the London paper. Basically people can text in to say they saw someone they quite liked the look of on the tube and then they might read it, get in touch and then it all ends happily ever after. Or they turn out to be a serial killer and you only realise this as they remove the axe from their rucksack. Let me start by using one that might work

“You had braids and beautiful eyes. We boarded at Chiswick on Thursday 6.15pm and spoke. I was lost and needed to get to Clapham Common. Your stop was Victoria. Would love to see you again.”

Now here we have one that gives a description that although brief (and perhaps bit subjective) does narrow down the field from the 8 million people who may have been in the London area at that time. It gives a time, a place and some other memorable information that being the content of a conversation.

Compare that to:

“To the beautiful girl looking sad and wearing a navy blue coat on the Victoria line. You got off at Stockwell and I sat next you, giving you a smile as you got off. Please can I try to cheer you up?”

It’s actually quite a sweet message, but it relies on the girl a) thinking she looks beautiful and b) having actually been feeling sad rather than just naturally being moody. A day and a time would also have helped…

But then there is:

“Your smile made my day at Baker Street, about 7pm on Thursday evening. I was in a suit with a red tie. Drink?”

I’m going to guess the person who was the intended recipient of the message is not going to work out that it is them being sought out. However, if you were at Baker Street last week and have a nice smile, but apparently no other characteristics that were memorable enough to describe then it seems someone is looking for you.

4 comments:

Soup said...

LOL - Ilove that page of the London Paper. It is that page alone that gave me the courage to run after Fire Man the night I met him and ask for his number (I didn't want to regret not getting it the next day and being like one of those texters!)

I also always read it in case anyone has spotted me because my love life is THAT bad at the moment.

Random Reflections said...

Blue Soup - I hadn't realised *that* had inspired you. At least you have the London Paper as a reserve option should you not have the nerve another time. I will read it with greater interest in future.

Maybe *you* were the woman with the nice smile at Baker Street. Maybe they also got the name of the station wrong, I'm sure they meant you really...

Soup said...

Random - well, of course it was me...

Random Reflections said...

Blue - see? Your prospects are looking up already!