Been a few days...

The past few days have been occupied with a deadline, so I have not been able to post anything new. Now with the deadline out of the way, today I am able to get back into it.

Last Friday and Monday were uneventful trips on the train, everything ran smooth and on time on my Western Line commute. Just they way we all like it.

I had to endure another offensive smelling passenger who sat right beside me. Ethnic minority, smelling of stale tabacco and musty clothing, and a nervous habit of chewing at his fingertips, like the sound of someone eating with their mouth open right in your ear. I had a window seat, so tried to lean towards the glass, breathe shallow and get lost in my book, a moderately successful technique to help endure the trip.

At least the train ran to time.

I've been receiving the txt updates from Veolia Transport about delays in their service every few days, and all of them have been arrived about half an hour too late to be of any help.

Last night, having worked slightly later than usual to hit my deadline, I was going to be catching a later train. As it happened all Western Line services around peak hour were delayed, and I got a barrage of txts keeping me posted with updates as each service was announced late or cancelled - all about 30mins to late.

But I was at least aware there was no need to rush over to Britomart as I wouldn't be going anywhere in a hurry. So for that reason the txts proved useful.

Of course whenever the trains are running late, you know the next service to actually get away is going to be over-crowded. Sure enough, the train I caught had us crammed in like sardines. I was standing in the aisle where reading a book it a bit difficult, so I went for my back-up option, got out my ipod and tuned into a couple of episodes of the I.T. Crowd. If you've never heard of it, I have trouble watching it without laughing out loud... it's hillarious!

Of course a fit of uncontrollable laughter is a little overt for my likings on the train, which is mostly quiet, and in this case full of fairly frustrated passengers, so I had to control myself.

I don't think it's ever shown on New Zealand TV, but the wonderful internet allows us to see all sorts of things! I reccomend tracking down some episodes if you get the chance.