blowing off the dust in the room where i forgot

heya

it is somewhere just (comparatively) north of a year since i last wrote of a train adventure. as circumstance seems to dictate that at least once a year i am obliged or called upon to take this form of transportation, it will be no surprise to learn that this is precisely what happened recently, look you see. 

of course, in the present time, or at the least at the time of writing (and probably still when this is being read, should it ever be read), taking a train somewhere has become, or is, a different experience than was known once before. indeed i do speak of that subject we have all grown weary and tired of. the invisible war on the new plague has made what was "normal" now very different. 

yes, in terms of the dominant and most pertinent question of train (or any) travel in this era. my journey was one that you would say is essential, for i was off to see the boys. we are not supposed to be going out and about for "trivial" matters, under various initiatives and laws all designed and set to cease the spread of this new plague. 

but, also, no, i was not quizzed or questioned as i made my journey. there have (has) been several incidents reported of people being stopped and asked what do they think they are doing being out and about, but no such incursion (or if you like intrusion) blemished my travels. my suspicion or thinking in respect of this is that we are, mostly, all being trusted to determine what is and is not essential reason for mobility, and just those who appear blatantly not complicit with such are being stopped and asked of their intention and plan. 

that said, momentarily i did fond myself in a position of incidentally, and accidentally, breaking the law. no, not in the form of the magnificent song off of Judas Priest, but still. my understanding, appreciation and acceptance was that one was required to wear one of them smart face masks on the train. i was unaware it was required on the platform too, until i saw a sign alerting me to such. so i do a sort of "oh" thing to myself and popped one on, ensuring i was compliant (complicit, perhaps) with the law before any member of the constabulary could approach. 

wearing one whilst on, or for the pedantic in, the train is of course compulsory, unless you have an exemption from such. i do not fall into that category so far as i am aware, and nor would i actively seek the means to be. should my wearing a mask in some way assist the allied efforts in the invisible war against the new plague, then i am delighted to do so. 

another reason for not wearing a virus defeating mask on the train is if one feels compelled, or urgently needs, to eat and/or drink. neither struck me as something of appeal. this lack of interest perhaps stems from my travels on the infamous Gautrain of South Africa, where the most severe criminal prosecutions and punishments are reserved for people what do that. it is, after all, far easier to arrest people just sat in a form of transport, and much cheaper than hiring cleaning staff. 

my awareness of current news affairs and related maters is somewhat limited. however, that said, yes, indeed i am familiar with how one twat journalist opted (or elected) to defy these mask laws by taking a random and for no immediate reason lengthy train journey sans mask, stretching out eating a bag of crisps (hello, Faye), what get called "potato chips" in some countries, for a coup,e of hours. unsure what point may have been made or proven with this, but no doubt there was one. 

certainly, or for sure, that is indeed a train departing from a station (the one i was at), presented in the greater good and glory of Commodore 64 mode, and as one of them "animated gif" things. no, this is not the train on which i rode, for if it were making this video thing would simply not have been possible. this, then, was the one prior to mine. i have a habit of arriving particularly early for any form of public transport, you see. even when i am just a few moments - say, the length it takes to consume a cigarette in the conventional way (sorry) - from the demarcated station. 

unless it was the case that the train i rode on was of a time generally known to be quiet, and this i doubt for someone somewhere would have cancelled the service if so, there appeared to be general compliance with all of that "emergency or vital travel only" doctrine. from what i recall, or could observe, passengers numbered less (or fewer) than ten, myself included. true, yes, cars here are now very much of a disposable cost, but i am not one who has such coins to dispose. as would seem to be a relatively straightforward observation to make, the majority (overwhelming in number) are most happy to comply with requests or laws, it is just the limited minority who(m) are not what feature in news reports and that. 

some actual, more conventional (as in regular) video of a train in action, or if you like doing its thing? there would be no reason which comes to mind preventing or precluding me from presenting such here, and i leave it to you to determine if you press the play button. unless on your side of the screen this plays automatically, i don't quite know how it actually works. 

indeed that is the train i rode on (or in) for my journey, pulling in at the station where i boarded it, or embarked. should i have a good rudimentary understanding of that term. can one word be a phrase, i wonder? maybe if bored enough i shall research that one day. 

one very dear friend, who i shall leave as anonymous (i am not sure it would be fair to mention Faye twice in this post), suggested or implied that i may wish, in my new circumstance, to take up the art or hobby of trainspotting. this i presume is in the sense of watching trains, as i now find myself in fairly close proximity to a station for such means of transport, rather than the Scottish variant, which involved needles and opiates of dubious provenance. no, i do not believe i will. perhaps, in my new loneliness and solitude, it would be a way to meet new friends and beyond, but as i have no interest in trains beyond getting somewhere i very much doubt that i should have much in common with anyone i met. also, such types appear to value privacy and the solo life. 

how was the actual train journey itself? functional and agreeable. satisfactory, even. there was but just one slight delay, and even then it was only for a couple of moments. no, a reason for it was not provided, but i have every confidence it was important. 

actually, to be honest, there was one section of the journey (bar the conclusion) which provided the splendid ways of the sentimental hygiene of nostalgia. it had (or has) been some time, perhaps thirty years, give or take (likely more) since i was on that particular section of train track. one journey i could recall on it was to go to town to visit HMV and purchase the 7" of Harlem Shuffle as recorded by The Rolling Stones. no doubt other trips were made, but that is the one which always comes to mind.

well, that would be pretty much all of that for this. yes, indeed, i shall take further train journeys of this nature. at the least until i elect or opt to obtain a car. but the cost of this train trip i took was surprisingly reasonable, and in general allows one to avoid the traffic. 

be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!