When I first worked in The City, I commuted from the South Coast for several months, before I moved up to town, and found my very first flat in Bayswater.
The daily trip from Worthing up to London Bridge was tedious. As a group of us were always the first on an empty train, we had regular seats and played cards for an hour. It was similar on the way home; but even so....
Others were not so lucky. Anyone who got on after Three Bridges rarely had a seat. By East Croydon the train was packed, they were even sitting on every free bit of floor space.
In each direction we played for small amounts of money. We played Solo Whist on the way up, and did the Evening Standard crossword on the way home. I lost money on a daily basis playing Solo, but recouped a bit by being the first to finish the crossword later in the day.
It may be cheaper living out of town, but the toll of commuting is dire.
I used to feel so sorry for those who never had a seat (even though they'd paid for one), but never enough to offer them mine.
At lest your commute sounded like it had a bit of enjoyment, and you must have talked to people on the train which I didn't think was allowed in London! when ever I have had to commute for work its been stuck in a car on my own, normally to go some where I had no disire to be! I never want to commute again if I can help it. My drive now is just over a mile to take the kids to school, I can handle that!
ReplyDeleteCommuting, for any reasonable distance, is a mug's game. When I was taking the train (as described above) it added about 4 hours to my day's working time.
DeleteThat's brutal! Four hours that could be spent doing something you love.
DeleteI have an old school friend who commutes from Horsham to the City. Apparently it's even worse these days with train delays and cancellations.
ReplyDeleteThe Southern Train strikes have made it almost impossible to commute. Even in my day, if I was delayed or prevented from travelling, my bosses were not at all happy.
DeleteI resisted better paid jobs in Derby and Nottingham so that I only had a few miles(maximum 5 miles) to travel to work. I never regretted this and believe I was better off in the long run in so many ways, not he least in time to spend at home.
ReplyDeleteSo true. As I said above, commuting long distances is a mug's game.
DeleteThat photo is a classic. I wonder if it actually moved with that army of 'ants' all over it.
ReplyDeleteMost commuting I've ever done is a twenty minute walk and that was across Hyde Park!! A very long time ago.
That's pleasant commuting. Even my 20 minute tube ride from Queensway to Bank was quite pleasant.
DeleteI used to do the daily commute too. Didn't last long though, and soon I changed to working locally. There were some jolly moments though,....getting on an already packed train at London Bridge, no seats, just the laps of willing young male friends to sit on, ...... well I was in my late teens.... we didn't do any crosswords, we just gently flirted!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, you've just reminded me of some serious train flirting with a young lady who later became famous in 'Are you being served', and 'Eastenders'. I mention no names.
DeleteI've never had to work 9-5 but had to travel to see customers early or late miles from home. At other jobs It's been a walk to the 'office'. My Dad used to drive daily to central London and his day was 12 hours long, best bit was that we could always get a lift and spend a day at the shops!
ReplyDeleteHow very handy. I presume he had a dedicated parking space!
DeleteWhen I was going up and down to Chelsea a few years ago I used to travel between Kings Cross via Cambridge and Norfolk. I started chatting to a woman sitting next to me one day as we pulled out of Kings Cross who said to me she had been commuting from Cambridge to London for 15 years and I was the first person to have ever spoken to her. On my local train into Norwich now we all chat to each other and that includes the conductor.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds very 'English'. I've always made a point of sitting next to people on trains, park benches, restaurants, etc. I always ask them first if it would be OK. It makes life so much more interesting.
DeleteI have only ever commuted by car. I hate public transport. I used to enjoy train-rides, but these days they are even direr.
ReplyDeleteAnd bloody expensive, if you have to sit on the floor.
DeleteI've never commuted very far for a job, mostly I've driven short distances to get there. On the rare occasion I go to London I avoid buses and the underground, I prefer to walk, but after a while even that is intolerable.
ReplyDeleteI lived in town for about 4 years, and my favourite way to travel about was by bike. Avoid the big car/taxi packed roads, and it's a great way to see London.
DeleteWhilst a worker bee, I commuted by bus, two buses actually, journeys were approx 70mins each way. In the good old days drivers were friendly as were some of my fellow passengers’ – but with the advent of the dreaded mobile, fellow passengers began to talk to their phones…
ReplyDeleteNevertheless I enjoyed this mode of travel, for as a night worker the outward journey gave me chance to wake up and the homeward journey gave me a chance to wind down – and I could do the crossword at leisure
As the joys of old age took their toll, public transport became impossible and I had to resort to taxis. I loved the luxury of this though not the expense of it. I became great friends with one of the taxi drivers, but since I retired and his guaranteed income disappeared, I think his children go hungry… :o]
Kind regards
Anna :o]
If at some time I return to spend the Winter months back in England, I'm looking forward to having my Bus Pass. I rather fancy the idea of free travel by bus.
DeleteI never minded public transit lines. I could rest, sleep, or read and not deal with traffic, and there was time to decompress after a long day at work. For most of my working life I drove, which meant I often waited in long lines of stalled cars, put up with crazy drivers, and dealt with snow and ice, and rain storms. The anxiety of it all was one of the reasons I retired. Now I just drive my country roads when I want and any trips to the city involve a train. There is so much less stress that way.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I love about living where I do is the lack of traffic. Twice a week I drive the 25 Kms to do some shopping, and I hardly ever see more than just a few cars.
DeleteBy all accounts it has got no better
ReplyDeleteA lot worse I think.
DeleteFor a while I drove 50 miles each way each day from The Wirral to Manchester (there was no alternative) and it's not something I would even want to do again. However I think it was probably a lot less traumatic than using public transport.
ReplyDelete