the wheels on the bus go round and round

Until my new car arrives I have been travelling on public transport and particularly on the 387 bus and have lost 7lbs in weight in the process!!

Us Londoners seem to have the reputation of being very insular and not at all chatty when it comes to travelling on the public transport - well, today I would like to correct that perception. Yes, OK I admit the whole bus is not buzzing with people talking and chatting to each other - a lot of the time it would appear that they are actually talking to themselves (on their mobile phones) or listening to their iPods or gazing dreamily out of the window. However, I can honestly say that every bus ride I have taken, so far, I have managed to strike up a conversation with someone who has only been too happy to tell me about their day, their lives and where they are going next!!

Today I had a chat with a lovely lady who told me how for the last five years she has been a cook within a primary school in Barking. How she was looking forward to the Easter Holidays because she was feeling tired but she does so love her job even though it's only for four hours a day.

So next time you are on a bus or any other form of public transport - don't assume that people do not want to talk. I still strongly believe that folk are just waiting for someone to listen to their story and to dialogue. Some of my pensioners travel on the bus just so that they see a face, have the opportunity to exchange greetings with someone even if it's only the bus driver - it gets them out of their flat or house. You know it's good to talk and even better to listen.