The hall of the station heaves with humanity, pigeons, dogs on leads, cats in cages. The huge screen announces the platforms. Everyone is watching it, everyone poised. On your marks, get set……. the platform goes up – GO!
The crowd moves as one towards the platform. Jostling, surging, pushing. The south is calling, the crowd answers the call, they can’t wait for sun and blue sky, the flowers, the sea, the hills, food and drinks that taste of the sun.
“O for a beaker full of the warm South…..”
The ticket barrier halts the crowd. It strains to get to the other side. It’s through. The people run to find their carriage, their seat. They need to leave the grey, the cold the wet. There’s an urgency now, it’s every one for themselves.
In the train everyone is looking for their seats and stowing their luggage. The atmosphere is febrile. Then the doors close, the train glides out of the station, calm descends.
People read, doze, look out of the window. In three hours time life will be just a bit better, a bit easier, a bit warmer. There will be more time for living.
In no time at all the tall buildings of the city are left behind, we speed through a beautiful landscape of fields and woods and idyllic villages. There are streams and ponds and cream coloured cows. The sky brightens. The naked trees start to put on their spring clothes. The first grape vines are visible on the slopes of the hills. We’re heading in the right direction.
The three hours are nearly up. People start to stir, jackets are put on, suitcases are taken off the racks. Everyone wants to be the first off the train. Outside the sun is shining, the sky is blue, trees are in bloom. The train stops. The crowd is disgorged.
It is warm! Jackets come off. The crowd sighs and with one voice declares…. “That’s better”!
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