Since I’ve returned from maternity leave I’ve seen my daily commute as my ‘me time’. It’s a relaxing time of the day when my brain and my body is able to shut off. In the mornings, I use the journey to read a book. In the evenings I flip through the gossip pages of the free newspaper that’s thrown in front of your face at the entrance to every Underground and train station. On a good day I can even complete a couple of sudoko’s on the train. I love my me time!

Last week I peered over my free paper and this is what I saw from my perch at the top of the bus:

Wall to wall cars.
Wall to wall buses.
Wall to wall people.
What sort of delusional state was I in to find this craziness peaceful and relaxing?

Apparently 1 million + people commute into London from outside the M25. These commuters on top of the 7.5 million people living in  Greater London makes for absolute madness at 9am and 5pm. As of July 2007, Greater London surpassed Paris as the most populous municipality in the EU. Wow! This is a lot to take in for a Missouri girl!

I am so sorry that my little bubble has burst. I much preferred my dream state of a blissful daily journey to the new reality of the steel jungle that I’ll be facing next week!