i was on a course yesterday quite near to paddington station so i was able to get a train an hour and half later than normal. it's amazing what a difference it makes to the quality of the customers.

my normal train only contains hardened commuters - those who want to be at work early, and often work late too (i see many of the same faces if i get one of the later trains home). Everyone looks well worn out and haggared, and hardly anyone talks.

the ratio of men to women is probably around 7:3. this became apparent when one morning we arranged a snog lottery for the passengers.

the later train i got yesterday contained happy smiley, very nicely dressed people who were chatting away. the ratio of men to women was probably 4:6 (but i didn't do a proper poll). When we got to paddington people sprung off their seats and jollied off to their places of employment.

i think i have a late train attitude stuck in an early train body.

update: i looked at the ratio on the earlier train this morning and it's about 1 female to 20 males. see how the memory distorts these things !