30 Comments

Well done Terry. I felt my blood pressure rise when the person had a rucksack so large it was keeping you in your seat! Thanks for demonstrating another writing style.

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Thanks, Donna. I don't think some people realise how much space they are taking up. It's worse when they pivot and bash you in the face with their backpack. No notices or announcements about that though 🤔

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Jul 26, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Captures the essence of the London Underground well and the mash-up (and inspiration from K, whose washing machine instruction-laced work I'd like to read) totally works.

You know, I was in Leeds last July with my brother to catch up with our aunt, and when we arrived at the station she met us on the platform and she said she'd purchased a platform ticket! I'd never heard of such a thing but she said it was a station where it was still possible to purchase one.

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Jul 27, 2023·edited Jul 27, 2023Author

You can still buy platform tickets on mainline stations AFAIK but I haven't seen the option on the underground for many years. Thanks for kind words. 8d love to publish K's original but am reluctant to contact her because of GDPR, and general good practice. With a bit of luck she'll read this post and comments, you never know 😊

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Jul 27, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Ah, I see. Well, it's all new to me.

Understandable on contact. Fingers crossed she comes across the post.

Also, I forgot to say two things before:

*I had a good chuckle at the sign about running on the hand rails (also didn't realise you could put an image as a footnote and it appears when hovering over the footnote)

*I had a good eyeroll at the woman believing you about the comment about giving up your seat!

Oh, one other thing: there was a good post somewhere about "very British things" regarding public transport etiquette. I'm trying to find it. Will link it if I can.

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You're the only person who has mentioned the seat episode so far! I've come across thot etiquette guide too, in the distant past!

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Mind the gap, No intrusive staring, Only run on the handrail. Sorted!

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😂😂

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Very recognisable, especially having now travelled through London the past few days. The style reminds me of the difficulty one has there, and in most other cities really, of finishing a single thought, so bombarded are you with sights and sounds. Interestingly, I had also picked up on the 'see it, say it, sorted' line (wrote it down as a note actually) and was planning on using it in my novel, as a way of showing the protagonist's disdain for the modern surveillance state and how it wants to train us to inform on our fellow citizens.

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Thanks, Robert. Clearly great minds think alike! Hope you amassed good material for your novel and managed to visit a bookshop or two.

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It's a while since I've been, but a quick search reveals several used bookstores. Waterstones sells new books ie not used, but might be worth checking out in case they have specialist books, eg on the local area. There's a bookshop called Skoobs. If that is related to a Skoob Books in London it would be worth checking out definitely

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I’ve been in London for the first time this week and have heard these announcements on repeat. This was delightful to read. Well done!

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Are u still in London? Thanks for the compliment Brandon

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In the area until Saturday. Oxford tomorrow; Bath Friday.

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Bath is beautiful. Oxford architecture nice, plus bookshops. Beware of cyclists everywhere though 😂

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I’ll have to practice restraint at the bookshops. Any recommendations for while I’m in Bath?

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I replied straight away, just in the wrong place! I am not familiar with that word you used, "restraint" in relation to bookshops, but still. Here is what I replied: It's a while since I've been to Bath, but a quick search reveals several used bookstores. Waterstones sells new books ie not used, but might be worth checking out in case they have specialist books, eg on the local area. There's a bookshop called Skoobs. If that is related to a Skoob Books in London it would be worth checking out definitely

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Thanks for the guidance, Terry! I’ll try to check it out!

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This is great! I like anything that focuses on local transportation and existential existence :)

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Thanks, Kathleen. I'd not thought of it in that way before! 😂

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Terry, this is not only a great story, it is INGENIOUS. Bravo - both to you, and to K!

I really enjoyed this post - thank you. 😊

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Jul 26, 2023·edited Jul 26, 2023Author

Thanks, Rebecca. Do you think I could win the Booker one of these days? 😂😂

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Definitely! 😊

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🤣🤣

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Jul 26, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Very cool, Terry. It has just enough embedded, recognizable nanny-ism. Next stop: Dystopia.

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Thanks, Sharron. "Nannyism" is exactly right! Love "next stop: Dystopia" -- wish I'd thought of that myself 😃😃

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Jul 26, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Decent stream of consciousness which brought back memories of a visit to London years ago. I write like that in my night journal, except more disjointed and I call it my SOU journal, Stream of Unconsciousness..

And in that journal, I can run on handrails.

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😃😃 I like it! Thanks, Andrew

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