CommuterVille. Is it for me?

I spent last week commuting to Docklands from Brighton this week for work, you may have seen my series of posts on the experience. In my formative years I considered working in London but could I do it now pushing 40 years of age with with two young kids?

The week certainly gave me a flavour of what it might be like to work in the city. Years ago, while working at one of my post-University temp jobs, one of my older colleagues remarked about my job search, 'You wanna go up 'town', while you're young. You'll love it up there.' Soon after, I found a job in Sussex soon after and 13 years later the rest is history. But what if I had gone 'up town'?

CommuterVille. Is it for me?

Commuter #trendville

All this week, I'm travelling to London for work, from Brighton. Being a nosey, over-analytical type, I've been making a note of what commuter trends seem to be in order for ultimate train travel comfort & chic (yes, chic).

Chunky headphones. The big, colourful, over-the-ear retro types are rife. It seems that the suited masses are trying to demonstrate a bit of personal flair by donning a garish set attached their teeny smartphone. White iPhone in-ear seem to be acceptable, at least it shows you're not a luddite.

Sensible footwear. Excited at playing 'grown-ups' for a week, I wore smart but chic heels. Only to realise that almost no-one wears heels on the train, nevermind the Tube. A quick chat with a fellow office person reveals, she keeps a pair of heels at the office. That may seem old hat to those who know but I immediately took note and now have a pair installed in my office for the week.

Commuter #trendville

Commuter #Failville

This week I've been working in London, joining the ranks of the commuting masses from Brighton to Canary Wharf. It's taken my three days to get into the groove of blank stares and blissful ignorance via headphones but I'm nearly there.

Having the last year 'off' (and I say that lightly as I've been working flat out on websites and new business ventures) has meant that most of the time I don't have to be anywhere, every day. After 13 years of commuting by car to an office, arriving at the required time and not leaving before I'm supposed to, I didn't adjust to flexibility too well. I couldn't plan my diary as suddenly the boundaries between work and family were blurred. Most people wouldn't moan about that but it took some adjusting, that's all I'm saying.

Commuter #Failville