Conversations

I spend approximately 2 hours a day commuting to and from work. In this time I mostly read a newspaper or my book (which by the way, I am in love with), but whilst reading I can't help but overhear conversations, laughter and various other human oriented sounds. I am not really the type to eavesdrop or sit and stare at other commuters, in fact I try to get as much space away from them as possible so I don't smell their awful morning breath or unwashed clothes, I do however pass smiles to friendly people. I'm not a grumpy commuter, I think I'm a curious and excited commuter (well at least for the time being).

I find it very interesting sitting across people whom I have never seen before and hear them talk about things with their tones increasing or decreasing depending on the level of secrecy or gossip they are talking about. You hear some strange things on the tube - some very intimate secrets to some extremely bizarre and eccentric conversations. I've sat across lovers, elderly couples, friends, siblings, parents, grand parents, great grand parents and kids. Each journey I have taken has been different and I'm not trying to romanticise a 45 minutes underground journey on the less than romantic Central Line, but it's true. There are some unpleasant journeys when the tube hits peak times and you're squashed underneath someone's armpit across the cheek of an unshaven man with a suitcase that weighs a tonne on your feet whilst a woman loses balances on thin pencil heels in front of you and falls on you. But during all journeys the only thing that stays constant is my fascination with how people interact and communicate with one another.

The other day, there were two friends who seemed to have many stories to tell one another. They were barely breathing and talking and laughing as fast as possible before they had to get off and travel on to their destinations. Just in the middle of their conversation a bunch of people got off the train, and they managed to locate two seats together. One of the girls sat down but before the other could sit a man ran into the train and sat there instead. I had space next to me and the girl sat down across her friend. They managed to talk and laugh for ages, and I could hear everything even though I tried to drown out their voices so I could concentrate on the chapter I was reading, but it was impossible. They found ways to talk to one another whilst the train became increasingly full with people standing in their ways. They started to shuffle around and find spaces between people's bodies and legs and carry on their conversations. It was actually really funny to see. They were vibrant and full of energy and managed to talk non-stop until I left the train.

A few days before this, I was reading my book and this man constantly drew closer to me until I turned and saw his cheek was touching my shoulder - he was trying to read my book. When he saw me look at him and move away, he realised how close he was to me and smiled and said "I've been trying to remember the title of this book for ages." We both laughed it off and had a conversation about the book. It was so uncalculated, and that's what I like most about London. You meet the most eccentric people have the most unexpected conversation with them that makes you feel so unusually happy for the rest of the day (if it's a good conversation).

I know it can be boring and irritating, moving back and forth on a fast train with polluted air hitting your face, but with so much time spent on the same journey every day, you have to try and find little things that make the journey a little less bothersome.

A song. A very sweet song.