Warming Up

8210/21129

Maybe they're not magic after all.

Despite their great season, it never felt to me like York City would get promoted this season. At least we were well beaten and it would have been more heart-breaking to lose in the final. It seems unfair that a team who came second, so far ahead of everyone else, doesn't get promoted, but it's almost the exact same situation as the 2021-2 season in the National League North. And look who benefited then.

Another full day of podcasting, with research in the morning involving watching two episodes of Rosie Jones promising new sitcom, Pushers and Joz Norris' silly and charming Joz Norris is dead, Long Live Mr Fruit Salad, amongst other things.

Jamie, the owner of the Podcast Room where we're doing a few recordings to tide us over, was in today and very excited to hear that Simon Brodkin was going to be a guest, as he'd been the comedian that he'd loved best coming up through school. He said he was a big comedy fan. "Are you a comedian too?" he asked.....

Haven't quite shaken the cough still, but I am now too well to go to the doctors, but the three interviews passed quickly and all had a different flavour. The lack of an audience does change things and mean generally there are fewer jokes and more introspection, except in the case of Joz Norris where the chat was a proper spiralling journey that skirted and smashed into inappropriateness. I told Joz that I had sat in first class for two journeys when I only had a standard ticket and claimed I was being like Robin Hood. He argued that as I wasn't really stealing anything or giving it to anyone I was just Robin Hood sitting in a slightly comfy seat. But I disagree.

I told him how I was taunting the train company by revelling in my crime and cataloguing it in my blog (and now on my podcast) like a slightly nicer Jack the Ripper (who had a blog - he did have that diary they found).

Once again I got my train home during rush hour and standard class was standing room only and first class had several empty seats. Even though there was a rail employee standing in the carriage, I hoped he wasn't a ticket inspector and again took a chance. This time though I felt I had some kind of moral backing to my crime. If there aren't enough seats on the train then people should be allowed to take any seat surely. Whilst I am sure I wasn't the only standard passenger taking this chance (and maybe there were no first class passengers at all) it did strike me as insane that people were standing on the other side of the swinging glass door having to endure an uncomfortable journey at a not insignificant cost, whilst there were places to sit.

So this was now a political protest and also I was tired. I am not comparing myself to Rosa Parks, that is for others to do, but why accept this ridiculous situation. If the incompetent and idiotic ticket inspectors ever catch me (and I don't manage to talk my way out of it by pretending I hadn't realised this was first class) then I will take them all the way to the highest courts in the land to try and get this system changed.

Similarly if I am ever given first class travel by a firm I'm working for and I can't get a seat because common thieves are sitting in the wrong seat I will also kick up a huge fuss and check everyone's tickets myself.

It's a consistent philosophy in which whatever is best for me is what happens. But for now the heat is on and I've aroused enough suspicion. I am going to lie low and be a good boy and sit in standard class (as I did on the way into town because there was room) until the scent goes cold. Don't know how much money I have saved so far - well it's none, because I would never have paid for first class- but I think it probably runs into the low tens of pounds. Take that Ian British Rail.

Come join my revolution. But not too many of you. Or there will be standing room only in First Class too. Actually let me fight this battle for you.