I Have Boarded The Train!
Written by Tamsin Cook
Generally I look forward to and enjoy long train journeys, enabled by an overactive imagination.

 I always try to sit at a table eager to happen upon a handsome young stranger or a batty old lady willing to indulge me with tales of her long and exciting life. Of course this is not what I ever actually get. Now for example I am sat opposite an empty seat recently vacated by a silent man who stared into an all-absorbing laptop screen, muttering to himself and occasionally pausing for a slurp of Yop. I hope he has actually left the train and hasn’t moved because of my garlic scented hummus breakfast. Yes, attractive I know.

This morning I am also not loving the train due to its limiting factors. Yesterday I was so close to the point of weeping from frustration that another pair of heels had to be sacrificed for more sensible clothing options (such as socks to be worn with wellies,  far more appropriate for my house) that I just had to laugh at myself. It turned out that I moved everything to Liverpool in September and that it is extremely difficult to pack a month’s worth of my life into a suitcase and rucksack. And that it is even more difficult to haul said luggage around the transport networks of Britain.

This has got me to thinking if a University long-haul car sharing scheme could be implemented as I for one would certainly take advantage, able to fill half a car with my worldly possessions. Although I don’t drive nor own a car so in fact it would be more an act of charity. The train does make more environmental sense and is cheaper if booked in advance than petrol for the 5 hour drive to my home county but still, for that extra pair of heels it has to be worth it. Another setback may be that the potential driver would have to like, or at least have the ability to tolerate hummus.

My search for a Dorset-driving charitable type continues. In the mean time I will just have to deal with the train. Ooh a rather large woman wearing skin tight leather leggings just walked past; the entertainment continues. Is that a handsome stranger sitting behind me? Speaking Spanish? On second thoughts car sharing is a terrible idea. Luggage must now be delved into for chewing gum. Ola?!