Looking up

Who travelled on the Central Line this morning?

For those who didn't manage to, there were delays to the service. So no change there, then.

However, it was the announcement, as I sat on the platform on Bond Street station, that had me a little confused.

The woman on the PA blasted; "Ladies and Gentleman. There are minor delays to the Central Line due to a shortage of trains. Otherwise all other London Underground lines are operating with a good service."

Huh? A shortage of trains?! What, did some of them phone in sick this morning?

How can there be a shortage of trains? Like one or five of them wouldn't start. Or have they run out of petrol or taken the day off?

This confused me greatly.

Just to make sure things were okay amongst the Central Line trains, I snapped this picture of the one I got on, to work.

It looks fine to me...

Actually, a shortage of trains isn't my favourite announcement on the Tube. My best usually occurs on a weekend and goes something like this:

"Ladies and Gentleman. The Central Line is suspended between Ealing Broadway and Mile End. There is no service on the Northern Line, and the Waterloo and City line is closed for maintenance. There are also delays to the Jubilee, Bakerloo, Victoria, District, and Circle lines.
Otherwise there is a good service operating on all other London Underground lines."

Uh-huh... and which lines would those be then?

And who uses the Jubilee Line often? (Okay, after this there will be no more talk of the Tube...)

Anyway, have you heard the following announcement on the Jubilee Line, recorded by some very austere sounding man, it goes;

"Thank you. For travelling. On the Jubilee Line."

Er. Yep, actually I was thinking of using my helicopter or yacht to get into the office this morning, but then I thought, hell - why don't I just choose the Jubilee Line instead?

I love that it's always littered with free newspapers and that whiney sound it makes when it leaves the station really sustains me during my journey. Why would I not want to travel on the Jubilee Line?!

Okay, okay - one last thing about the Tube.

Now I'm not paranoid but.

I think the Secret Society of Architects is onto me after I was a little dismissive of Chris The Architect.

On the way home this evening - having decided to use the Jubilee Line instead of a canal boat - look who came and stood right next to me, wearing sunglasses...

Yes, someone with building plans in their hand. I think it's the Secret London Architect enforcer with his ricin-tipped umbrella.

Luckily I managed to get off just in time. Phew.

I am going to take my paranoid weirdness off to bed now actually I think.

Okay, just one more thing about the Tube.

Isn't the impending summer fantastic? Sorry Southern Hemispherers... the weather here in the Northern Hemisphere is getting luscious.

What it means is fit guys, fresh from the sportsfield travelling on the tube in their sports kit. I like it when they do that.

So that's enough of the Tube but I can we talk architecture for one last time? I promise not to be rude.

On the contrary, actually...

Don't you think that, from certain angles, the Centre Point building looks rather pleasing?

I took this on the way home this evening, as the sun was setting against the white marble of the building. Okay, I really am now going to bed.