Update

Oh the shame. Today is Tuesday and I *still* haven't spoken to train guy... Here is my saga.

For those of you who are unaware, our lovely local train folk currently have an ad campaign called Don't hold others back. Although it's not really obvious from the advertisements, the general gist they're trying to get across is that the trains are running late because of us. The people who catch them every day. Funny that. How many *gazillions* of people use public transport in Japan every *minute*. And what's with them thinking that if a train is running less than 6 minutes overdue, it's still ON TIME??!! Hmmm...

Enough venting. Here is my story.

Yesterday (Monday) I arrived at the train station *slightly* rushed, and I did the whole dive for the train door (as it was beeping). While two people on the inside of the carriage, and myself on the outside, were trying to keep the doors open so I could get in, the "Don't hold others back" advert ran through my head. And I let the door go.

I was infuriated.

1. At myself for being in that position - I would rather completely miss the train than be there at the door going for the dive.

2. At the train folk for blaming the infrequency and unreliability of our public transport system on the users - as opposed to them always running late.

3. At the station attendant on the platform who walked past quite smugly as I vented.

4. At the people on the opposite platform who witnessed part of my venting as the train departed.

Then...

It happened again today.

You cannot be in any doubt as to how infuriated I was today. For it to happen again. To go for the dive. Although today, it was a new train, so there was no handle.

There were only people. People who, like me, follow routine, and so no doubt saw me going for the dive yesterday as well.

To do it once is understandable. To do it twice - and on consecutive days - is plain foolishness.