The walk to the station, ticket machine broken, apologetic and helpful staff, window seat with a view, suits crowd on at Tunbridge Wells, overheard phone conversation about last nights Tinder date, rain spatters the carriage window and the woman opposite has a coughing fit then reaches for her makeup bag, man next to her dribbles his McDonalds breakfast onto his tie, suits pour out at London Bridge, the rest enjoy the fresher air at Charing Cross, a day at galleries, catching up with family, lucky to get a seat on the return from London Bridge, headphones, tablets, smartphones keep everyone happy and quiet, as darkness descends the carriage window becomes a free cinema screen, suits evacuate at Tunbridge Wells yawning towards the exit,  barrier won’t let me out at Hastings, the sea air wafts through the ticket hall and the rain lashes down on the walk home. Ditto but slightly different if its destination Brighton or Eastbourne.

Lockdown put a stop to my train travel, I miss it.

Not being able to travel gnaws at the soul.