Strangers on a Train

A train derailed between Mile End station and Bethnal Green.

I was on the Bethnal Green station when the next departing train had its lights turned off and all passengers were asked to leave. An announcement was made that an "incident" had happened between Mile End and Bethnal Green.

I took the Eastbound Central line back to Mile End so I could then switch to the District Line. One of the trains was empty, with its lights turned off, and policemen were about to enter the tunnel. I thought an attack had taken place in the tunnel-stuck train (not necessarily of the terrorist kind).

I might have been in that train if I'd decided to walk to Mile End (my usual routine) instead of taking the bus to Bethnal Green.

Edit: Now they think something was placed on the tracks to derail the train... hmmmmm.

They Drove All Night to Get to Us

"Sir, sir," three smirking teenagers said to me yesterday. "It stopped raining." They were referring to my open umbrella after a brief downpour. I don't think anyone has ever called me a "Sir" before. Couldn't they have said "Yo, dude, waz up with that umbrella?" or "Hey sexy thang, it stopped raining." But nooooo, they had to make me feel like a dinosaur.

I happened to be hanging around Covent Garden, waiting for steer, rosamicula, sarcaustick and thirstypixel. I called the actor who I sometimes hire for social occasions and asked if he would like to pretend to be my boyfriend Kevin for the night. He said he was game. We found a table in a loud, smoke-free Canadian pub called Maple Leaf. Everyone had a good laugh, thinking Kevin was the only genuine Canadian in the pub -- if only they knew he's a born & bred Essex boy! But, as the good actor he is, he can put on a decent Canadian accent and fool just about anyone.

After drinks, we made our away across Covent Garden to Mon Plaisir, the oldest French Restaurant in London. Rich and creamy food was ordered; a decent bottle of red wine was downed; and much gossip and jokes were shared. Before we knew it, the clock neared midnight and, being a school night, we said our goodbyes.

I ended up bringing the actor who plays Kevin home. Me bad.