The story behind the photo
There was chaos at the station this morning or was there? The machines were taking an age to process tickets. It was Monday and as with everything on a Monday, everyone is at the starting line which meant the queues had 100s of people.
Yet perhaps it was a sign of England as everyone formed themselves in queues around maybe 10 ticket machines and 4 cashiers. Some queues curled others went straight yet others incorporated the pillars and double-backed. And mostly there was quiet as people simply waited.
Curiously the queue I found myself in was short, it was the queue at the coffee kiosk. I go for a cheaper train so I have to wait until after 9. I sat with my cappo and watched. A woman appeared and like a prophet in the marketplace she declared that people could go through the barriers and pay at the other end. The queues halved as many departed on hearing her instructions those that remained did not wish to incur the questioning of the train staff when no ticket was produced at the other end.
Come nine o’clock I asked was the deal still on and when it was confirmed I pass through without a ticket. Not totally sure I asked a guard would the staff at Luton be aware that we would be travelling without a ticket, he replied he thought so.
Standing on platform 2 I notice that the queues at the other side of the station are usual. “Do I go and get that ticket from other there or do I trust what I have been told?” My trust in these situations proves not to be strong as I make my way to the paypoint, engage a member of staff and purchase a ticket.
The incident reminds of the need to look above the problem for a solution. We were all so caught in the melee at the front station that few of us had considered the machines at the other, quieter, side of the station.
I recalled a few weeks ago in Bournemouth the parking machine would not take cards. I solved the problem after taking time to sign up to an app only to discover if I had gone above the problem to the next floor the machine there was taking coins.
I am enjoying taking the train as Cee takes my car. The journey is reduced by 35 minutes and my imagination is enlivened for the duration. I can see how JK Rowlings was inspired to write Harry Potter as she sat waiting on a train. I play in my mind that today may be the day the train takes me on an unbelievable journey. If I had time I would even try to see what words could do with that thought. For now, I take a photo on my phone.
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