The train is a great opportunity for innocent eavesdropping. Yesterday morning I overheard two chaps in their mid-sixties discussing job opportunities. One was flourishing an application form for a position with VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas). He looked exasperated. In true Victor Meldrew mode he said: “Six pages. Six bloody pages! And they want a list of seventeen core competencies. Core competencies! What does that mean? Seventeen!”
His companion peered over his bifocals and replied: “Y’know, that form should consist of just two questions. Number One: are you a good egg, a decent sort of fellow? Number two: do you get on pretty well with Johnnie Foreigner?”
They then collapsed into schoolboy giggles, and began exchanging anecdotes about their time in the diplomatic service in Turkey and Algeria. One involved an ambassadorial wife getting drunk on raki at a reception in Istanbul, and vomiting spectacularly during the guest of honour’s speech.
“Dear me”, said one, amid the chortling, “if we weren’t aleady crazy, we’d go bloody insane.”
This week has gone pretty well for running. Nothing too long or arduous. Four early morning runs of around 3.5 miles. Sunday’s and Tuesday’s were tiring, but the next two were noticeably better. I even managed a sub-10 minute mile at the end of yesterday’s which wasn’t that easy after being off the road for a month or so.
Tomorrow I’ll have a go at something longer. I must be due for another pulled muscle, and this seems as good a time as any.
