Tuesday 20 March 2012

Eavesdropping On The Bus

Photos Copyright: Maggie May

It is nearly a year since I went off on my own ........ just catching a bus from our bus station and going off to our local sea side using my bus pass.

Last Saturday, I felt the need to do this and whilst feeling a bit guilty about leaving Harry behind and wondering if he would be alright, I made the decision and left home at 9.30 am.
The bus journey takes about one hour on the fast bus but much longer on the meandering one that I caught, as it visits lonely estates and villages and winds along country roads on the way. I sat upstairs on the top deck of the bus, known as a double decker, for those of you who don't have this type of vehicle.
The surrounding countryside can be seen much better than from a car. I like to see over the hedgerows and I do enjoy looking into peoples' gardens and farms. I can see so much more from a bus.
The bus journey itself is always quite interesting as I love to *people watch* and as if on cue, a large family got on the bus and sat in front of me on the opposite side. It soon became apparent that they were speaking two languages. The first being German or Austrian....... I can't tell which is which and the second English. The two boys and two girls spoke mostly in the Germanic language but the parents answered sometimes in English and sometimes in their native tongue but the children seemed to respond to either. Although both parents spoke excellent English, I did feel that the woman was English. This seems to be the natural way to ensure that the family are bilingual. It takes input from both parents all the time.
Eventually they got off the bus long before I did and they all headed off to a wooded area, obviously going for a long walk in the country.

Harry and I haven't been to many places since we had to have so much treatment for our illnesses and last time I visited, Weston Super Mare was still in turmoil with workmen everywhere while they finished putting in the superior sea defences and new walkways. The whole of the town seemed to be upside down for several years, so I was quite pleasantly surprised that it was all finished and not a workman, tractor or bulldozer anywhere in sight and it all looked very new and agreeable as well as safer for the people who live there.

Harry is responding to the new cancer drug and feels much better but the brain disorder, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, is affecting his memory, moods and often walking, making things hard for him and everyone else. He has recently had to give up driving and we managed to sell the car over the weekend to some friends.
Anyway, Harry is not well enough to travel so far as my journey but can go to the city centre on the bus by himself and go out for walks now he is feeling a bit better. He just needs to be reminded to take his keys and things like that and I do worry in case he forgets important things to do with the safety of him and the house. So I can never really relax and spend the time thinking of possible things that could happen to him.

Anyway, I managed to go for a very long walk along the seafront as far as the eye could see and beyond. I sat down and watched the people go by while I ate my sandwiches. I was most surprised to see a young couple walking by with a shopping bag and I noticed a little nose peeping out from it, sniffing the air. Very curious, I was trying to decide what animal could be in there, when it popped its head out completely and I was able to recognise it as a ferret! It had a stainless steel lead attached to the bag and harness. I was thinking about my little rabbits at home in their safe surroundings.

The day was warmish though I needed hat, scarf and gloves. At times there were bursts of sunshine that I basked in and the air seemed much fresher than the city.
After several hours, I walked back to get my bus home. That bus was much quicker and busier than the first bus that I caught out and I just found myself listening in to a conversation between two women whose age I thought was quite young, but I wasn't rude enough to turn round and look. However, when I got off the bus, they overtook me and I found they were very elderly ladies.
Aren't I just the nosiest person around?
However there is always some blog material to be found by watching and listening and I did enjoy my trip and it gave me an enormous amount of pleasure and Harry was fine. I will do this more often now, I think.





21 comments:

Sandi McBride said...

Maggie, I know the feeling of needing to get off on your own and I'm sure Harry does too. I used to love to take the bus from Beaconsfield to Amersham and wander the shops. I have a few lovely bits and pieces to remind me of those days. Prayers for you and Harry both that the Lord looks over you and reduces your anxiety and hopefully brings healing...Amen
hugs
Sandi

Akelamalu said...

I love bus journeys and people watching. Sounds like you had a lovely day Maggie. Glad to hear Harry's new medicine is working.

dianefaith said...

Good for you! If I had access to a bus like that, I would certainly wander off! And, never feel guilty for being nosy. . . we're meant to notice people.

Jeni said...

First off, I don't think you are the "nosiest thing ever" -just a regular person who happened to overhear someone else's conversation! I do the same thing -frequently! Sometimes, I even interject my own opinions too into other's conversing -provided they appear to be in decent enough humor, etc., so as not to risk life and limb that way!
Glad to hear Harry is feeling at least somewhat better and here's hoping the other issues do smooth out a bit more for him as well.
Your trip though sounds really nice -something I'd enjoy doing for sure and yep -I'd want to be on the top level to get a much better view of EVERYTHING!
(See, I am the nosiest thing ever, really!)

cheshire wife said...

I am pleased that being bold paid off and you had a good a day. Sometimes we just need some space. Good to read that Harry's new medicine is working. He probably enjoyed some time to himself as well.

Shammickite said...

It's a marvellous thing to be able to jump on a bus and go off for the day somewhere, just wandering, doing some people watching and looking at new horizons! Especially with a bus pass.
I'll be in UK for a couple of weeks in April, but probably not in your area although I will be walking from Minehead to Combe Martin along the coast path. I remember going from CM on the bus to Weston S M with my cousins, a nice day out by the seaside, even though I lived by the sea, it was always exciting to see someone else's bit of sea.

Shammickite said...

It's a marvellous thing to be able to jump on a bus and go off for the day somewhere, just wandering, doing some people watching and looking at new horizons! Especially with a bus pass.
I'll be in UK for a couple of weeks in April, but probably not in your area although I will be walking from Minehead to Combe Martin along the coast path. I remember going from CM on the bus to Weston S M with my cousins, a nice day out by the seaside, even though I lived by the sea, it was always exciting to see someone else's bit of sea.

Leilani Schuck Weatherington said...

Thank you for sharing your wonderful story. Regretfully, in this part of the U.S. we do not have public transportation to get from here to there like you did on your bus. I recall how much we enjoyed traveling on the train across country -- one can see so much when one can take the time to LOOK! Glad the medicine is working for Harry.

Suburbia said...

Sounds like the break you needed, sometimes you can't beat your own company. So glad it was a lovely day.

Fab pics.

Sx

MARY G said...

Well done! I am glad Harry was fine and I hope you get to do it again.

I, too, love people watching and overhearing.

And I envy you greatly being able to walk by the sea, landlocked creature that I am.

Hilary said...

Nosy? No.. curious.. interested.. an observer. It sounds like you had quite a lovely day despite the worrying. I hope things improve for Harry. It would be so nice if the two of you could get a day like this in together.

Sally Wessely said...

Yes, I think you do need to do this more often. I'm sure the entire day was such a refresher for you. I'm glad Harry was fine when you got home.

I never think that listening to conversations around me as being nosy . If they are speaking loud enough for others to hear, what are you supposed to do? I love listening in. Maybe that is why I never think of it as nosy.

Sueann said...

What a delightful trip you have taken me on. Glad Harry was fine and dandy. I am also glad he is feeling some better.
Be well dear ones
Hugs and prayers
SUeAnn

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Good to know you are getting out and about Maggie. I have been to WSM a couple of times lately and agree with you, the sea front is looking very smart. I wonder if we passed each other? A x

Anonymous said...

Your photos are beautiful - so serene. Hope your excursion re-charged your batteries.

CiCi said...

I like you saying that the bus trip gave you an enormous amount of pleasure. I can relate to that and have become determined to do the things that give me pleasure too. Riding my bike around town is one of them. Taking photos is another. And crocheting is way on the top five of the list. So glad you had a great day and that Harry was fine while you were gone.

Suldog said...

I, too, love to people watch, and there are few places to do it so easily as on public conveyance of some sort. It's amazing what some folks will say in public (I should talk, the way I rabbit on at my blog about all sorts of personal things!)

FeltByRae said...

I love going on the bus too - haven't done it to Weston yet, but I love the bus in to Bristol, there is a quick one and a slow one (half an hour and an hour respectively), and they both have great views to enjoy

I must do the Weston one soon as the day pass is only 7 quid and goes all over N Somerset - my son and I did Brstol and Bath one when he was here last

So glad you had a lovely day, eavesdropping and people watching are great hobbies!

Happy Frog and I said...

I'm pleased you decided to go for a ride on the bus and have some you time, I'm sure it did you good. x

VioletSky said...

I will often go out for day trips just to see something different. But, I always drive (no double deckers here and few useful out of town buses). I find I don't enjoy sitting in cafes quite as much as I used to now that so many people seem to be sitting around with their laptops instead of casually talking to each.
Glad to hear all was safe at the end of the day.

Rose said...

So glad you took the day off and did something for yourself, Maggie! Caregivers really need to take care of themselves, too. And such a beautiful place you visited!

By the way, I'm a "nosy" people watcher/eavesdropper, too:)