Here we can all be heard for a little while. Part 3

calleyw

Izadora wrote: »

Is there something in particular you're worried about or is it just a general away-from-home thing? Either way, I hope you manage to have a lovely time and that all goes well.

Izzy,

I have been to bits of london over the years. But not sure where anything is. And trains and the tube scare me. I know its so silly but I am worried about falling between the train and the tracks!!!!!

Also its the weekend of the royal wedding we are away. So even more people in london. I don't like lots of people as well. We have a few friends joining us. So fingers crossed I can get through it.

I did try and get a appointment with one of really nice and understanding gp's. But sadly I left it too late to see them and get something from them to help calm my nerves.

Yours

Calley x

Izadora

calleyw wrote: »

I know its so silly but I am worried about falling between the train and the tracks!!!!!

Even though it's extremely unlikely to happen it's not that silly, on some lines the gap between the train and the platform feels like you're doing long jump!!

Have you planned things to do while you're away or are you just seeing how the mood takes you? If it'll help you feel a bit more in control then take a look at tfl.gov.uk and you can plan your tube route in advance. If you're not sure what the nearest station would be you can search by postcode too.

I can understand being worried about how crowded it's going to be but if there are a few of you then try to keep in the middle of everyone as it does help to lessen the irritation of being bumped and pushed.

My knowledge of lots of London is very limited but I've worked here for 17 years so know some of it reasonably well. Feel free to PM me if you've got questions but don't want to post where exactly you're going and if it's somewhere I know I'll try to help.

Hopefully the worry will be a lot worse than the reality and you'll have a fabulous time.

dandy-candy

Calleyw I'm in London and have been all my life, and I promise I've never fallen down a gap on the tube I always keep back until the train has stopped completely and I feel safer. Embankment is the station I dislike the gap on but even that isn't really that bad.
If you are going to the shops in busy places like oxford street/ regent street then get there around 10am and they are empty until lunchtime. I much prefer shopping then. Tubes are busier from about 4.30 to 6pm so I avoid that time too. When I'm in the central parts I prefer walking to hopping on the tube for 1-2 stops, they're so close together it's easier to walk. I hope you have a fab time, have you any specific plans?

Pyxis

dandy-candy wrote: »

Calleyw I'm in London and have been all my life, and I promise I've never fallen down a gap on the tube I always keep back until the train has stopped completely and I feel safer. Embankment is the station I dislike the gap on but even that isn't really that bad.
If you are going to the shops in busy places like oxford street/ regent street then get there around 10am and they are empty until lunchtime. I much prefer shopping then. Tubes are busier from about 4.30 to 6pm so I avoid that time too. When I'm in the central parts I prefer walking to hopping on the tube for 1-2 stops, they're so close together it's easier to walk. I hope you have a fab time, have you any specific plans?

It's also worth checking on a map where you might be getting the tube to. This is because the tube map isn't to scale and it isn't even a true representation of where places are in relation to each other.

You may find that the two tube stations you need to go from/to are several stations apart on the map, needing a change of line, but are actually within walking distance of each other on the surface!

With a bus map, it might also be nicer to just hop on a bus.....you see more that way, too.

And yes, in all the years I used the tube, I never came close to falling down the gap, even in a crush, but I do agree, it does seem scary, what with the noise and all.
Just be sensible and keep behind the line until the train has stopped. :A

geminilady

Calleyw
It is not just you I hate getting on and off trains I always pause and think everyone is looking at me,don't like going down escalators either or stairs with gaps in them just been away with my son and he was very patient with me bless him.

calleyw

Thanks guys,

It's a bit of everything. And I have the feeling it will be my TOTM and really don't like being away from home with that.

We have things planned. So should be fine. I have told AM so he is aware. As the problem is I will probably go quiet and withdraw. And we have 4 friends joining us for a day so that will good.

Yours

Calley x

dandy-candy

I've been having a bit of trouble getting myself out of the house lately. I hadn't left the house all week until yesterday when I walk to local shops briefly. In the evening we were meant to go to the cinema and I kept saying "I don't know, I can't decide" so DH said "right I'm deciding, we're staying in" of course 20 minutes before the film started I decided I did want to go and we rushed off! I started to feel uncomfortable half way through the film but stuck it out and was glad I went.
You would think after getting out that I had broken through the mental block, but this morning I got up and decided I must go out - put on my shoes and coat....and here I am still in my shoes and coat an hour later. I've walked to the front door and back twice, looked out and then sat down again. I can't decide where to go (or where I can face going) but I feel I must try and make myself go out or I never will leave the house.

Pyxis

dandy-candy wrote: »

I've been having a bit of trouble getting myself out of the house lately. I hadn't left the house all week until yesterday when I walk to local shops briefly. In the evening we were meant to go to the cinema and I kept saying "I don't know, I can't decide" so DH said "right I'm deciding, we're staying in" of course 20 minutes before the film started I decided I did want to go and we rushed off! I started to feel uncomfortable half way through the film but stuck it out and was glad I went.
You would think after getting out that I had broken through the mental block, but this morning I got up and decided I must go out - put on my shoes and coat....and here I am still in my shoes and coat an hour later. I've walked to the front door and back twice, looked out and then sat down again. I can't decide where to go (or where I can face going) but I feel I must try and make myself go out or I never will leave the house.

Ok. Is there a corner shop or newsagent nearby?
If so, go to that and buy a paper, or a tube of sweets or something, and come home again.

If no shop, is there a letter that needs posting? Go to the postbox and come home.

No letter?
Right. Just walk round the block and come in again.

dandy-candy

Thank you Pyxis I did as you suggested and walked to the nearby shops. I popped into about 4 shops and then felt ready to head home, I'm really glad I did it though. I'm not sure why I'm getting like this again right now, I don't really feel quite myself but I'm going to try and push back against it.
I hope everyone had a bit of the sunshine today, I think it's due to last the whole weekend. Hugs to anyone in need x

jobbingmusician

cally, there was a time when people sometimes fell between the tube and the platform. Most of them, though, were people who mistook the gap between carriages for a door (usually when intoxicated). The tubes were actually redesigned to stop this happening! Falling down the 'mind the gap' is EXTREMELY RARE, even with loads of people travelling in rush hour and being drunk sometimes. I've only ever heard of it happening once, in fact. And if you think of the millions of journeys that happen every day it shows that this was a real fluke!!!!!!