How was your day? (Random off topic chat)

Glad you're staying.

Have made half plans to go to cinema but called into babysitting instead so meant my time trying to unpick eight different colours of melded play dough (you really can't) and playing who is hiding in the cardboard box, oh for those days when that's all you needed for endless fun.

I was reading this article about flying cars and autonomous aerial drones. It mentions the issue of public acceptance and particularly the idea of heavy drones dropping out of the sky and damaging your property, or damaging you. One person working on developing drones acknowledges that people might have concerns about safety but says that the drones will be at an altitude of two or three kilometres so you won't be able to see or hear them.

This does not make me feel safer.

I already have to explain that the porch door is open, please place packages inside the porch. Dunno what I’m gonna say to a drone.

Doubt they'll roll in drones round my end. We're still getting used to homing pigeons.

Anyway, got on the bus today and asked for a regular day ticket, to be met with a very upbeat bus driver (shocker) saying something like I look quite young to be purchasing an adult ticket. He then, with a slight wink, chimed in with "Are you under 19?". He clearly wanted me to go along with it, so I nodded and said yes. So he gives me the child/student pass, half the price of an adult one.

I rarely get ID'd when buying alcohol, and yet... this still happens...

Sorry Monkey, but I just don't beleaf it.

Drone dropped it, isn't that the answer to all objects in unusual places outdoors in the future?

I do trust it won't upset domestic harmony lynette.

Woken just after 1am by nightmare neighbour's loud 'music' (not sure what he plays but he really does have zero talent!) so have come downstairs and put Encore radio on at top volume AND have the hoover running - let's hope it pisses him off soon so I can go back to sleep!

So Thursday was my first show of the year. Les Miserables at the Wales Millennium Centre, 2.30 matinee, front row, booked back in 2018.

Arrived Paddington in good time to catch 11.18 train to Cardiff.This would have got me to Cardiff Bay about 1.30pm. Sadly a person had been struck and killed by a train near Bristol earlier and many trains were delayed or cancelled. Previous 10.48 train to Swansea and my booked train to Cardiff (I always have the cheapest advance ticket) both cancelled. Trains were arriving from Bristol and S.Wales up to two hours late.

Everyone advised to travel on a Bristol train and change at Swindon. Boarding started at 11.10 on a train which should have left at 11.02, I got a seat but whole train was soon absolutely rammed, then at 11.27 announcement made that there was no driver and the next Bristol train, the 11.32, would be leaving first and on time. I was one of about 200 people who quickly got off and started to hurry to another platform for the 11.32. Just as we got there it was announced that the 11.32 had been cancelled and the 11.02 would be leaving instead. Quick about turn, I'm fast despite my senior railcard status but I knew I wouldn't get my seat back so I boarded the first class carriage. I asked if I could remain there in the circumstances and the first class host confirmed I could. I had two first class seats to myself and even got the free refreshments. No announcement was made to allow anyone to travel in first class and I did feel for people standing a couple of carriages down.

At Swindon the train half emptied. The next service to S.Wales was running but late and we caught a train we could have been on from Paddington. Boarding so many people at Swindon took ages, more time lost at Bristol Parkway, arrived Cardiff Central exactly 14.00. I then had to decide whether to continue my journey by train or catch a bus from outside the station. I decided to risk a tight train connection, caught 14.05 to Queen Street, arrived 14.08, through the subway and managed to get 14.12 to Cardiff Bay, alighted 14.15, reached the Millennium Centre at 14.20 and took my seat at 14.26. Curtain up at 14.31 and Les Mis was of course wonderful and it's a beautiful venue. Within 5 minutes I was totally engrossed in the on stage spectacle and just happy to have got there in time.

Hardly anyone complains when they know that  a tragedy has caused the delay and I think the people at Paddington, Swindon and on the trains all did their best, including announcing that we could claim under the delay repay scheme. Pity the person who felt the need to take their life that way, their loved ones left behind and the poor train driver who in some cases never does the job again.

Sadly people desperate to end their lives see rail suicide as a certain and instant means of achieving that goal and they don't think of anything else. it will never be eradicated. Everyone affected wishes they hadn't done it of course but I find it hard to worry about my own delay and inconvenience when a life has been wasted. My sympathy rests most with the train driver.

As a frequent rail traveller I'm always aware that I may be delayed through an incident like this. It doesn't really stress me out as I'm "only" going to a show and if I miss it for any reason I can usually just re-book. At least these days a smartphone can help re-plan a journey and minimise overall delay. Also when travelling by train there are often options that don't exist when stuck on the motorway behind an accident in a coach which is why I usually travel on long journeys to shows by train but often back by (cheaper) coach.

It is a difficult subject to discuss without seeming insensitive, isn't it, but I do think more could be done by various organisations, both to prevent suicides and to deal more effectively with those that do still occur. Last week my local rail services were hugely impacted by 3 instances of persons hit by trains and every time this happens, the whole system grinds to a halt for hours. There are notorious level crossings which, whilst they now have notices for the suicidal about contacting the Samaritans, probably need cctv monitoring - and yes, I know the expense would be huge. Better mental health services are desperately needed and suicidal or severely depressed people cannot wait at all for these, let alone for months as they do now under the NHS.

I do have some personal experience of this as my uncle committed suicide when I was a teenager; a classmate did so when I was at school; at least 3 colleagues from my long-term job killed themselves (one made more than one attempt) and OH's brother killed himself 5 years ago - he too had tried before and made really sure it was going to happen on the last occasion and this despite superb support from a very committed GP.

Hence I agree that if people are utterly miserable and without hope, they are probably going to keep trying until they succeed and sad as it is, I think that's their right, even if we think they weren't able to make a rational decision about it.