Ticket Talk | In Whom We Trust

The News, Muse and Whisperings of Edinburgh Festival

Week 0:

In Whom We Trust;

There are a number of organisations (read: people) who are responsible for the safe passage of the BSR to the treasure chest of festivities that is Edinburgh Festival.

In years gone by (and yes, avid reader, there have been a fair few years gone by - alas, alack &c) travel to Auld Rekkie can range from £12.50 to £161.80. Admittedly random, these figures represent one of the great social experiments in GB. Sandwiched between passenger A and passenger B, whether they be from Newcastle, Berwick or Peterborough, BSR travelled upto Edinburgh aboard a somewhat cramped 19:00 service from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley BSR became part of this social experiment.

What will happen if hundreds of strangers are forced to share one short 5 carriage east coast line transit from London to Edinburgh?

Companions in discomfort, BSR was joined by a band of merry men (and women) aboard said service. Gravitating around the designated wheelchair space...

(Note: No, we had not evicted a genuine wheelchair user from des. spac. as that would be rude)

...we learned about eachother in the vein of a campfire life-share session. Our two georgie companions carried with them two cases of fosters, for this we are grateful. Our home county companion was in the company of an american tourist - both were heading home. Finally, a lady about to celebrate her 35th wedding anniversary, completed our party.

After establishing our destinations, we knew that our time was short. The oppotunity to take advantage of the moment, which had thrust the disparrate band together, was slight - we had but 4 hours, 5 for those of us headed to Edinburgh.

The Wise Lady
Name unknown, but a week short of a 35th wedding anniversary, we heard about how the Lady had courted the Edinburgh Tyke (apparently a Yorkshire label for Man). Apparenltly the joy is in the chase.

The Young Travellers
Two woman, circa 21. The Festival meant freedom, from uni course, family and an on-the-road lifestyle. The American waited upon an expected text from a Brit boy, who she had met last week. We debated the merits of text-baiting - what is an acceptable amout of time to wait for a response from a 'boy'? IN the following conversation I felt a little embarrased to be one of the race of men. The three women seemed to form an intimidating union, against which no man was safe.

The Geordie Duo
24 cans of fosters - quite frankly - is a lot. However, our hapless heroes provided much amusement on our trip 'oop noorth'. Firstly, BSR suggests charging a toll for those passengers that feel it necessary to pass the merry band. To be fair we had sat, on the carpet (nice) just one carriage short of the buffet car (read: sandwich cartel - how much should a sausage egg muffin cost?). Those brave enough to approasch our blockade declined to pay the required 50p charge, which we had calculated would mean we could buy more beer every 5th person.

We were one. United by the chaos of the National Express East Coast.

However, when asked about the Edinburgh Festival, the answer weas somewhat muted. Whilst the merry band had indeed heard of it, they had no desire to conquer it.

What lust is lost, when familiarity breeds content?

When we arrived at York, we were separated once more, drawn to the empty seats that appeared. The Fellowship of the Train disbanded. BSR wondered whether, perhaps, it would have been opportune to hand them each a flyer, but the opporunity had passed.