So I join the queue and wait patiently for my turn
"May I have a top up of two pounds eighty on my oyster please?"
"The minimum here is five pounds" he said
"I've got a zone one to three monthly oyster but just want a return to Loughton"
"You can top up for two pounds eighty from the machine" he replied, pointing to his left
I follow the direction of his finger and there were an array of machines
"I'll have a five pound top up please"

11:54..... Stratford station queuing for a top up on my monthly oyster card
Why?
We're off to do some power walking at Epping Forest
"Excuse me, I said to a female Transport for London staff, trying to get her attention
"Excuse me...... "
"Yes?"
"Can you tell me what zone covers Loughton?"
After looking at the map she said......
"Zone six"
"Thank you"

I look out of the now immobilised train and see darkness
An annoucement comes through the tannoy from the driver
"ladies and gentleman, I'm sorry for the delay to Stratford.......blah! blah! blah!......traffic queue"
"F****** excuse as usual!

18:00..... Left the office. I arrived at London Liverpool station with a minute to spare and found a seat opposite a rather big
.... American like statuate woman (ok...... Huge woman! She was taking two seats!)
Everything about her was big......
Big hooped silver earrings!
Big handbag!
Big head!
I daren't look in her direction for fear of being engulfed by her

Today I am not so lucky. The train arrives, opens its mouth and sucks us into its already full belly. Standing room for many of us
Why is it that some commuters refuse to barge even when there is enough space nearby!
"Excuse me please, may I pass?"
A couple of blank expressions.
"Can I get through to the gap over there?" I asked politely, gesturing to the gap in question
More blank expressions
I am now thinking that I must be speaking another language and decided that action does sometimes speak louder than words so.......I nudged my way through the imbeciles!
Quite a few commuters disembark at Stratford station and I was spolit for choice (seat wise)
The train door shuts and I can see Westfield, the new shopping centre in Stratford.......Next stop is London Liverpool Street station

08:24........... As I crossed over the first set of zebra crossing towards Maryland station, I noticed one.....two......three.....and more people gathering their pace to the station entrance and I follow suit. I guessed they were aiming for the eight twentyfive National Express train to London Liverpool Street station, like my good self....... so mimicking them, I too gathered speed.
I crossed the second zebra crossing and galloped up the steps, touched in my oyster card and made my way down the remaining steps to platform one

Walking to Maryland station with full steam ahead..... Well the only steam that I could master was the one coming from my mouth!
I pass several Secondary school kids waddling to school
I say 'waddling' because of their heavy rucksacks in their backs. They chatter an inaudible chatter as they pass by, oblivious to their surroundings
"Excuse me please" says a cyclist nearly knocking me down whilst cycling on the pavement...... My pavement!
"I'm sorry!" I sarcastically replied and moved out of his way
In my world........
"No excuse you! This is my right of way! This is a pavement not the road! Pavement! Road! Me..... Pavement! You...... Road! Comprehendo?
"I'm sorry" he meekly replies dismantling
"And so you f****** should be!