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.