some kind of signal failure near carlisle, meant that i decided to visit a hostelry in preston. i had watched one train fill beyond capacity, shut the doors and then just sit there for 30 minutes. so i found the next train, and took pole position, alone near my chosen carriage door. after 20 minutes, the doors had not opened and people had gathered around me and had started doing things i didn't enjoy. subtle jockeying for position, to challenge my pole positioning, huffs of impatience, as if trying to will the train doors to open. after the family turned up and crowded my space and the airspace with piercing social housing scottish voices, i left. i enjoyed leaving the platform with everyone waiting for the train doors to open. finding a pub. having a vape and a gin and tonic on the smoking terrrace, getting out my laptop and chilling.
then strolling back and finding a seat on a quiet, calm, carriage on the same train 40 minutes later.