A train journey to London in 1970

I landed back in England from a teaching post in Germany in December 1969 and was feeling very lonely and not happy with the English weather.  So I decided to try to get a job in sunny Australia.  I had already obtained a temporary position in Brighton England.

On January 8th, 1970 I set out for Brighton station to catch a train to take me to London to visit Australia House.  Once I had bought my ticket I walked onto the platform and peered into the carriage windows.' I might as well have a pleasant traveling companion' I thought .  Then I spied a good looking young man sitting in the corner of a compartment.  So I went into that compartment and sat in the far corner away from him.

Because my boxes had not arrived from Germany I was limited to my best clothes,  a light beige fur coat and hat and long beige suede boots.  

The journey took 59 minutes and I exchanged a few smiles with the young man but as there were other people there nothing more.  There was one stop at East Croydon and a  disheveled tramp got in.   This made me want to laugh and I struggled to keep my composure.  Then we arrived at Victoria station and I still had not spoken to the young man.   I imagined he was married and going to London to work. 

This is all I can type for now so the rest of the story will come in another post.