dimanche 25 mai 2008

Strangers on a train

So I took the TGV home again from Paris on Monday evening. The train was crowded. I always ask for a single seat so I'm not bothered by having someone sit next to me (how very sociable, I hear you say). Anyway, this was a last minute decision to take this earlier train and I ended up in a block of four seats - my least favourite position.

Wondering what nuisance people SNCF would seat next to me, I got out my laptop, book and i-pod. All things to keep me busy and stop me being talked to by my table-sharers.

"Is this seat 95? I'm never sure if I'm aisle or window".

"It says on your ticket - aisle or window" I said without looking up. Rude, I know.

"Ok thanks. I'm aisle, next to you".

I look at the French man about to install himself next to me. A handsome, chunky Frenchman of the classical variety - dark hair, stubble, good suit.

"Bonsoir" he said. "I'll try not to disturb you too much, you look busy".

"No problem" said I, "I'm just catching up on emails". See, I can be sociable if I want to be.

"You're English?"

"Yeah, you picked up on my little accent I see".

"It's a great accent" he said, and gave me a big smile.

Thirty minutes into the journey, "Can I get you coffee or something - I'm going to the bar" he asked, "Maybe a cup of tea with milk?". French people think this is hilarious.

"Sure" I said. "In fact, I'll come with you. I've been sat down all day ". I hadn't.

We walk to the bar-car, which is quite classy on the TGV - a little man serving sandwiches, drinks, beers, and plenty of space to stand, chat, look out of the window.

He bought us both a beer each. We stood and looked out at the scenery flying past.

He asked me why I was visiting Lyon. I told him it's where I live. He asked me how long I'd been there. We chatted some more. He was funny and interesting, charming and disarming in that way that French men do so well.

He asked me to come for dinner with him at the weekend.

We returned to our seats. He leaned in and told me that he was pleased he'd changed his ticket and taken this train.

At the station, we swapped mobile phone numbers, shook hands and parted.

I've starting packing up my house this weekend. Preparing to leave Lyon.

I guess I'll tell him that when I see him tonight...

16 commentaires:

Eclectic Dilettante a dit…

ooo. have fun.
French men are exceptionally good at flirting.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Hi ED - This one is very good at the old flirting business. And he has a killer smile.

No doubt Ill keep these pages posted with progress....

Anonyme a dit…

oh my god! THis is the stuff movies are made of! Have a great time

Lola a dit…

Are you wearing some sort of badge? Or is there a particular pheromone that you emit? Perhaps it's the smell of award-winning success that's being picked up. And don't forget, no garlic tonight, however French you're feeling.

Anonyme a dit…

Oooh I love flirting on the train!

Hope you have fun tonight!

The Hangar Queen a dit…

So you had the award (well bloody done by the way).Then you meet the Stranger On A Train (Less of a strager by now?).What could make it a hat trick?

Petite dejeuner pour deux peut-etre?

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Thanks Alan...it's also the kind of stuff that serial killer movies are made of, so I'm going to be very careful!

Lola, no pheromone, no badge. God only knows what it is - if I knew, I'd made it work more often!

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Marjolein, flirting on public transport is the way forward. As long as the other person doesn't smell of truffles....

HQ, I'm going for a complete set! Let's just hope he has decent coffee....

A Lewis a dit…

Yummy....flirting. And on the train! Even better. Ahh, these fleeting moments of fun and fantasty in our lives.

aims a dit…

I'm with Lola here - do you just emote this? The guy just picked up on your sexual preferences sitting next to you?

Hell - could you come over and give my brother lessons? He can't tell if a guy is gay from 2 paces let alone 20. I keep pointing them out - 'he's gay - he's gay - ...nudge nudge...go say hi or something'

Brother - 'He is? how can you tell?'

Jesus wept!

Breezy a dit…

Good luck on the date. I'll be back tomorrow for an update

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Lewis, yummy indeed. Flirting is fun.

Aims, I don't know what it is. He didn't look 'gay' and neither do I really. But hen. who does these days?

A lot of the campest looking, gayest dressed men are very very straight ...

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Hey Breezy, check back. An update will be here.

Daryl a dit…

Ah Frenchmen on trains ... so romantic .. and take from me, some times those strangers .. well you read my post about meeting Husband ..

:-Daryl

The Woman who Can a dit…

How come you get all the good luck on trains eh? Still, I'll forgive, if you tell all.

A bientot

T
xxx

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Daryl, I'm not sure this one is husband material....

Tina, and the train ran on time too!