The life of a commuter

This model of Glasgow sits on Buchanan Street, and this specific shot shows my pedestrian route between means of public transport through the city centre, from Queen St station (long and rounded, bottom left of the thumbnail) to Union Street (left of the large building in the top right which is Central Station. I walk this route every day on my way home (I get the bus direct to Queen Street in the morning, but the one way system means that's not an option on the way home).

It's been an interesting few days seeing people I've not seen in a while. For a long time I had a very set routine in the mornings, I would get up, wash, dress and get the bus to Queen St. Once there I would get a nice hot drink at the AMT stand, and have a laugh with the staff, mainly the regular morning staff, Ian (the manager, a complete nutter in the very best sense), Jenny and Jill, then get the train and travel through to Stirling on the Dunblane train. I did the train journey with Jane and Heena, who did an even worse commute than me, Jane from Nitshill area and Heena from the far side of Newton Mearns. This summer they both left the company they worked for, Heena to work for her brother in law and Jane to work in Motherwell, so I've been commuting alone. Over the last week I have run into Jane three times on the bus or waiting for the bus (she's now commuting to Hamilton), so it's been great to catch up, hear Heena's news and see pics of Jane's wee grandson walking.

I've also not been buying hot drinks for about a month and won't be for another 6 weeks (as that's how I'm paying for my 50mm lens). Though I should be honest - I made an exception yesterday as it was that kind of morning! Ian greeted me with 'to what do we owe the pleasure?' As I was coming home tonight I saw that Jenny was at work, which is very unusual as she is morning staff - they need their best folk in the morning as it is far busier - so went over to see how she was doing. Ian has put her on the late shift now to lick the afternoon staff into shape. Funnily she was saying she'd seen me wandering around taking photos a few weeks ago when she was out with her mum for coffee in John Lewis, which has a great view of Buchanan Street. I told her that Jane had said she missed getting her morning coffee at the Queen Street AMT. Jane now commutes via Central, and while the coffee from the AMT stand there is just as good and the staff are very nice, the banter is completely lacking. I do miss the £3 million change, the songs and the attempts to get the queue doing aerobics! Not long to go now. Jenny is also hoping to be back to mornings in a few weeks. Still need to find some more train buddies.