Mind the Gap

"We're sorry to announce that the Northern line is delayed in both directions due to a p...zzzzzt unnnnnd... the train."

Although muffled through the subway speaker system, the crisp English voice came clipping our way and efficiently put a halt to our escalator dash down to the 'underground.' Whatever the reason, we would have to wait for our train and there was no point running.

"Did you catch that?" I asked Nicholas, as we found a spot to wait on the Northern line platform. It was already thickly crowded as only an London platform can be during rush hour: no one is looking, touching , or acknowledging any one else. Newspapers and iPods pose as essential urban camouflage as etiquette deems that no one shall be interrupted whilst reading a London Lite or zoned out to one's tunes.

"No, I didn't catch it. Sounds like a train failure or something." In the past week, Nicholas had had the pleasure of hearing several of the reasons as to why our train could possibly be delayed yet again. Mmm... quality time stuck on the underground. He's oddly familiar with the London system, as the Hong Kong metro was modelled, almost precisely, on its' English contemporary. The major difference being that in Hong Kong, the people are packed in like sardines. The English could not possibly tollerate all that contact.

....

Well, it's now been almost a month since Nicholas came to visit and yesterday I finally learned what that disembodied voice was saying:

"We're sorry to announce that the Northern line is delayed in both directions due to a person under the train."

Yes, that's right. It came as a shock when I heard it clearly, as the same muffled voice has made that announcement at least three times in the last month that I've been on the underground.

What is with the Christmas holidays that brings people closer to the edge?