Last night was a treasure, especially as I had my first night out in Camden since moving to Willesden Green in which I was safe in the knowledge that there was an easy way home.
You see, buses don’t go from Camden to near me, so I’d have to head into Oxford Circus and then get one.
If I am off home when the tubes are running I still have to go south before I can go back North.
But ewe had discovered a new bus, the 35 travelling from Chalk Farm all the way to Kilburn in a bout 10 mins. And then one just needs a bus to hop from Kilburn to Cricklewood.
At half four I left the party, out of the side entrance to the Stables Market and opposite the garage is my new found bus stop. I’ll be home soon.
I checked the timetable, the previous bus was due to have gone just two minutes before. I had my normal problem of wondering whether the buses were accurate to their timetables. I actually have no idea, for most buses just turn up whenever.
The next one was due in half an hour. I was feeling tired, but could still hear the music pumping from inside the market. If I was sure that I’d definitely missed the last one I could pop back in for 20 mins. But what if I went back in only to miss the bus only half heartedly sticking to the timetable – still half an hour apart, but coming on the quarter of the hour. I could keep going back and forth missing every bus.
I figured that as it’s only been two minutes I probably should give it a few more. maybe after 5-7 I should go back in.
Those seven minutes passed, and I realised I could have stayed in the warm party for this extra time. I wanted to go back in, but every minute inside was a potential minute of bus missing.
So I stayed there minute after minute after minute until it was five to five. I could have had twenty five minutes of drinking tea and dancing.
The bus showed EXACTLY on the minute it should have done. If only I had this knowledge twenty six minutes ago.
But at last, I was one the way home.
I got to Kilburn (quickly) and waited around for another bus to take me up the road, there about four buses that serve this route, all nightbuses. If not it was a half hour walk.
I had to walk.
It took me 1 hour and 20 mins to get home. If the buses had showed when they should have (as in, when I wanted them to) it would have been 25 mins.