I was invited to a retirement "do" for a former manager, I have mentioned him on this blog before.
The event was in a city an hour away by bus (and the express bus at that) but for which the return journey was likely to be less easy.
My friend who had also worked with this particular gentleman offered to meet me there and to give me a lift home.
I got a taxi to the bus station, I know usually I walk but the weather has been somewhat capricious recently and I did not want to chance getting wet on the outbound journey.
Taxi was on time and fast so there was a bit of a wait at the bus station. I had forgotten just how cold those seats are when first you sit on them, they warm slightly as you sit. Indeed temperature is going to be something of a theme I think.
Bus arrived, contactless payment, a window seat (not my preferred side but still OK) electronic reader and all set. I had started a short story and with the waiting time at the bus station I was finished it with some journey to go but did not feel like starting another. So I was just settling down to nap when my legs were freezing! Someone had opened a window, a stop later that someone got off and another person closed it. Warmth restored and nap time. It was reasonably safe, this a journey made before and my stop the termination of the route.
I woke up as the bus pulled in and my friend was waiting for me. Chilly walk to the venue which when we arrived was comfortably warm.
Familiar faces and lots of unknowns, some I had not seen for ten years or more. Its an odd thing the passage of time.
Event over and off we went to get the metro to where my friend was parked, happily the ticket machine is no stranger to her and she navigated it on my behalf.
We sat on the platform, more cold seats and cold drafts from the wind through the tunnels. Then onto the metro and we were seated and chatting and a strange reciprocal warmth on our backs from the seats reflecting our body heat back.
A slight delay two stops from our destination then we were arriving and with reluctance stood, we had just got nicely warm.
Quick walk to the car and yes the seats were cold (no heated seats, I have encountered such delights before, although it can be somewhat startling having your posterior heat up if you do not know that is going to happen). Once more things had just warmed up cosy comfort when it was time for me to get out and go home.
My friend still had a distance to drive so had a bit longer to appreciate the warmth but that was a bit six and two threes as I am sure she would have been just as happy to be home sooner.
In cost from most expensive to cheapest for the public transport it was metro, taxi, bus. For distance longest to shortest it was bus, metro, taxi.
The most enjoyable well that was metro and car because I had the company of my friend.
