Now and before

I realise that a portable mp3 player works best on bus journeys that are long, quiet and cold. Having no one seated next to you also helps so you can look out, or lean against, the window in a comfortable position.

I saw a group of school children running for the bus today. Somehow that reminded me of my younger schooling days when groups of uniformed students would be strolling out the school gates invariably making a lot of noise, and invariably running and making more noise when the bus they intend to board is approaching from a distance. I would think that no childhood is complete without participating in such a scene.