Rules 6 and 7 - children and pushchairs

It is very rare for these rules to be broken in my opinion.  I don't have children of my own but have taken my niece and nephews out on day trips so do have some experience.

On Monday night on my way home from work I had the best example of these rules being kept - hats off to the lady in question for managing to keep both of them at the same time.  She tried to keep to rule 6 (rushing to get the first available seat) but I wasn't going to be beaten on that one!

I'm not sure whether she had two or three children with her but they were very whingy children.  I got on the train and took my seat and could hear them shouting behind me as the were running up and down the carriage shouting goodbye to whoever they had left on the platform.  One of the children then sat next to me and starting shouting that she wanted chocolate (don't we all?).  I'm going to make an assumption here that the woman with them was their mum - of course, she may not have been.  All she did when she eventually acknowledged the demands for chocolate was to say very loudly that they couldn't have any.

The child sitting next to me then decided to move seats, several times, and ended up sitting behind me.  Queue constantly getting kicked in the back.  I was just on the point of losing my temper and saying something when we reached my stop so I avoided an argument, although as the mum was sitting opposite (a) she could see what was happening and (b) must have heard my mutters of frustration.

As I got to the doors of the train, I noticed that the pushchair was blocking one side and that right next to it was a large bag, also belonging to this family.  Now this may not have been a problem as the station that I get off has several platforms and which one you come in on dictates which side the doors open.  But yes, you've guessed it, we came in on the side that the pram was blocking.  So well done to this lady for keeping the rule for blocking the doors - myself and the gentleman getting off behind me didn't quite manage to break our necks!

On Tuesday there was another pram blocking the aisle of my train - completely blocking off at least half a dozen seats.  This couple also managed to keep rule 26 (over the top affection) by having a smooch as they blocked the doors before getting off.  So a big congratulations to them too.

Rule 8 - telephone calls

With the festive season in full swing, there have been lots of examples of Rule 8. These have mainly been drunken conversations following Christmas parties and lunches and have been very entertaining as we've heard all about what outfits they're going to wear, how much they've had to drink, who snogged (or worse) who. As well as the normal, boring business conversations. 

On Monday I overheard what could have been a very interesting conversation as a gentleman behind me on the bus appeared to be having an argument with someone. He was claiming that the person on the other end was being rude and it was no way to treat a fellow musician. Unfortunately it was someone a little the worse for drink having a conversation with an imaginary person. 

A friend posted this photo on Facebook yesterday and I think it really sums up this rule. It is from the letters page of the Telegraph and I may just have to try it. Although I will be using the Metro as I'm not sophisticated enough for the Telegraph!

Weekly update - 10 December 2014

It's been a week where I've observed lots of people keeping the rules and hardly anyone breaking them. 

Last Wednesday I was carrying a heavy bag which had three rolls of wrapping paper sticking out of the end. As I was walking through Bank station on my way to work a man came towards me so engrossed in his Blackberry that he didn't see me. Now I'm quite stubborn so I refused to move out of his way. Had he not looked up at the last second, well let's just say he would have been walking funny for a little while! But good on him for keeping to the rules. 

On Thursday a follower on Twitter sent me a photo of someone keeping Rule 3 in a slightly different way. The lady in question had her bag on the bus seat next to her. There was just enough room for someone to sit down next to the bag but she drefused to move it to aid comfort. Well done!

On Sunday I took my niece and nephews to London for the day. I was so proud of my 10 year old nephew for rushing to get a free seat, although he did let me down by then giving it up for an elderly, disabled person. But it was his nan so can't complain too much about that. His 6 year old sister on the other hand stuck to her guns and refused to move!

Monday morning I witnessed the best example yet of seat blocking. Getting on the DLR at Woolwich Arsenal I noticed a couple with a pushchair. But they went one better than blocking the door - they put the pushchair in between the seats thereby taking two seats out of action. I'm not sure if they moved or not as I rushed down the carriage to get another empty seat!

And finally, on my way home last night I had three people come through the barriers and stop right by the gates, blocking anyone wanting to get to the escalators. Well done - keeping the rules made some of us miss the train. 

Rule 1: Blocking the doors

Last night I saw the best example yet of this rule being kept. 

While waiting on the platform at Bank for my DLR train (only partially keeping this rule, as was everyone else by this point as a lot had already got on the train) a young couple came hurrying along to get the train at the platform. There not being a lot of room, they were very near the platform edge to try and get to the doors. The man somehow slipped and fell against the side of the train and one foot actually came off the platform. 

Had the train not been there he would have been in the track. Luckily all that was hurt was his pride. 

So keep blocking the access guys - next time it might be a fatality.