What they really mean...
January 8th, 2010 @ 00:09 | permalink
The following are a set of text messages sent out by the company that operates (for the moment) my local train line on 6th Jan*. As always these never tell the whole story I've decided to fill in the blanks.
17:06:43
1735 - cancelled - a member of train crew being unavailable.
Some lazy bastard decided that barely an inch of snow qualified him to stay at home.
17:14:53
17:35 Now OK.
Someone who did show up got press-ganged into taking an extra trip.
17:18:26
17:56 - cancelled - an earlier train fault.
Did a Eurostar.
17:36:49
17:05 will be delayed after leaving by about 10 mins - an unusally large passenger flow.
We were to stupid to realise that with the crap weather people might leave earlier than normal, thus resulting in the rush hour starting earlier, so didn't bother changing the usual number of carriages.
*For those reading this somewhat later, the UK was suffering a more severe than usual winter at this time.
Demi added…
January 8th, 2010 @ 10:56 | permalink
So they haven't yet got to the trusty "We apologise for the late arrival of this train, which was due to its late departure"?
Their standard excuse for late trains, repeated ad nauseam over station tannoys when it is the case, is "We apologise for the late running of this service and for any inconvenience it may cause."
They never think to tell us why the train is delayed - especially when it is more than a couple of minutes.
I wonder what the chances are...
January 8th, 2010 @ 13:35 | permalink
...of Harriet Harman claiming her fine for driving without due care and attention on expenses?
jess added…
January 9th, 2010 @ 13:02 | permalink
I'd have thought quite high....
And why hadn't she used her expenses to claim for a hands free kit of chauffeur any way?
jess added…
January 9th, 2010 @ 13:12 | permalink
Now, on the train announcements we all have our code phrases for getting out of things we don't want to do...
Mine is "(sharp intake of breath) I'd love to do it but the insurers won't let us".
I suspect yours is "I'd love to but the browser technology won't support it" :~
jess added…
January 9th, 2010 @ 13:14 | permalink
Oh and isn't the MMV - MMX bit just a little pretentious ;~
I suspect yours is "I'd love to but the browser technology won't support it"
Well one browser anyway. :)
And why hadn't she used her expenses to claim for a hands free kit of chauffeur any way?
Given her motoring history you suspect a chauffeur might be a good idea. Could it though be that none of them want to? I know I wouldn't want to voluntarily place myself in the same vehicle as her.
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