Had a tiring day yesterday, all the way from SE Essex to Plymouth and back by train for a University admission interview for my son.
Sitting at Fenchurch on the way home waiting for the train to start a well dressed middle aged lady got on. Coming down the train there were plenty of seats. My sons art portfolio was blocking one seat as it was too large to comfortably store on the racks or anywhere else. The women promptly kicked the portfolio; we moved it out of her way and she sat in the seat that had been blocked. I rather assumed she was a bit drunk so made no issue of it.She then produced her phone and proceeded to make a series of phone calls. They seemed to consist of nothing but malicious gossip, telling one person what someone else had said against them. Thankfully she went over to text, but her whole body language just screamed the hate she was putting into the messages. Someone (husband?) rang who she assured she'd had her hair done which is why she was late. (lousy hairdresser I'd say). She also put her boots on the seat opposite while doing this. A further series of phone calls, all of which I really didn't want to hear. For the worst bits she turned away and faced the corridor floor as if that would stop the whole carriage hearing her bellowing other peoples secrets into her phone.
Finally we got up to leave the train - she was sitting talking into her phone about a death which she obviously didn't give a **** about. As I went to pass her she abruptly stood and leapt in front of me to leave the train first.
Rant over.
I know this woman is ultimately the biggest loser of her own behaviour. I just wish I could grow sufficiently to simply let nasty people like this dissolve in their own malice without allowing it to bring me down. Play nice, late night trains aren't a nice place to be.
