Someone keyed my car!

I drove my mom to the store yesterday and when we got back she noticed there were huge scratches on the passenger door of my car. She asked my if I was aware of this, which I was not. I went to inspect and behold, this is what I saw:

Two big deep scratches, obviously made by some wanker with a key! Who does that!! Poor grandpa car is now mutilated (named so for the vague, but after a whole year still lingering smell of the 84-year old man I bought the car from). I have no idea when these were made or where. But I assume it happened by the station, where I park my car when I go to work. Some punk kid who thinks it's funny to drag a key over someone's car. It's very likely that it happened last week, when I left my car there overnight when I came home late from drinks in Brussels with the colleagues and had my dad pick me up at a different station. It just seems more likely that someone keyed it when my car was practically the only one there rather than in the middle of the day when the parking is packed.
Was really pissed off when I saw that, I just paid off the damn car! I'm not having it fixed of course, as it would cost far too much. And it's not exactly a Ferrari, so not worth the money to fix a scratch. Doesn't make it any less annoying though.


Anyway, on to more cheerier subjects! I had my extra day off yesterday, and I must say it really made a difference. I was really in dire need of some time off work, and even though this is just a one day extra weekend, I will feel a bit more refreshed when I go back to work on Monday. Right on time, as it is looking like it will be very busy the next two weeks with the sudden change of post of our ambassador. I well get a lot of administrative work dumped on me as the First Secretary is overwhelmed with work and due to lack of staff, us lowly consular officers will have to help carry the load! So I'm really glad I decided to ask for a day off this week, good thing work doesn't mind last minute leave requests.

Less than two months now until my trip to Spain! Will be so nice to finally get a proper holiday and 8 whole days off of work! I wish it wasn't so long anymore, as I could really use some time out of Belgium. As I mentioned before, I'm getting quite fed up with these surroundings. But just a little while longer and I'll be off to the sun and hopefully see some nice things as we have planned.

I do love to travel, it just feel so nice to get away from everything for a while and get a breather and see some beautiful things. What I'd really love to do some time is make some sort of spontaneous trip. Just pick something random on the airline website, and just go as soon as possible, no planning, just off on a little adventure with someone. Far away, for short or long, that doesn't matter, just the surprise and adventurousness of the whole thing would be very fun. I'm more of a planner when it comes to travelling, so doing it like that would be exciting! Or alternatively, just get in the car and drive. I do love a good roadtrip.

The feeling of being off somewhere, seeing something new, not having to think about anything stressful, few things beat that.
Just you and the horizon, and the wind in your hair.

Train people

Ok I’m back with a less sad post! As I once mentioned I have a very long commute by train every working day. Two hours to get here and two hours back, so four every day! Sometimes I do stay over at my sort of boyfriend ‘s place, which is only half the distance, so that helps break up the week and makes me a lot less tired in the weekend! But sometimes I do have five days in a row of four hours daily on train, which is pretty hellish. By the time I get home I only have two hours to relax before going to bed, which is the worst about the commute really. Numb sitting area is also a downside, but that’s bearable :D Helpful is my pink netbook, filled with films and series, it really makes time go faster. Now, during all these long traintrips I encounter a lot of people. Some people are really a pain in the arse, making your already annoying journey even more annoying. I decided to categorize them ! Most I have encountered many times, but some pain in the arses are really one of a kind.


The loud headphone/earphone type

I’m sure everyone knows this type! Sitting on public transport and having to listen to the usually obnoxious music of someone who is clearly deaf. If you can hear the song several seats away your music is on too loud! People with earphones who do that are really mad, no wonder so many people have tinutis. Have fun hearing peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep for the rest of your life, idiot.

The who needs headphones type

Possibly worse then the previous one. This person will just listen to music or watch videos without putting on headphones. That way we can all enjoy the usually very soothing music or interesting video you are listening/watching. ..(sarcastic in case you didn’t notice) Really, can you really be that annoying? Are the dozens of evil glares not a hint?


The loud talker type

You can encounter this type anywhere you go, unfortunately almost always women (except on phones, a lot of men also my dad seem to think they need to yell through a phone). Clearly these people have hearing problems and have no idea how loud they are actually talking. I do not care about who is dating who and who you fancy.

The talkative type

Often an old lady, but not always. Not always that annoying, if it’s just an anecdote, but I once had an old lady telling me her entire life on the train, which was a bit awkward. It is however not as annoying as scary not very sane looking man talking to you about weird subjects. I try to just smile and nod when that happens and get out of there as soon as possible.

The possessive paper reader type

Encountered this type just the other day on the train! This lady was reading a paper and as I was not doing anything to entertain myself my eyes wandered to her paper and I couldn’t help but read. A normal person wouldn’t be bothered by this, I was only glancing at the paper, and well I was bored. This lady proceeded in doing various actions to try and prevent me from reading the paper. She sat sideways and turned the paper her way. I glanced at the front page. She lifted up the paper till just under her head, so I couldn’t read along again. Now really, it’s a paper, why so possessive or anti-social, lady! I don’t care if someone stares at my laptop screen when I’m watching something, or reading along a magazine. I’d even lower the magazine so they can read as well just to be nice!

The eager sitter type

Now this person is really annoying. When a train is really not busy and there’s nobody sitting next to me, I’ll just put my bag or purse on the seat next to me, so I can get things out easier. Now this type, when wanting to sit down on that seat, will not even bother asking you to please put down the bag, which I will happily do. I’d do it before asking, but sometimes I’m busy reading or watching and I don’t see them. So instead of asking, this person will just proceed to sit down, on your bag! Squishing all your stuff with their big behind. When you look at them weirdly and say excuse me, you’re sitting on my bag, they’ll just stare at you quizzically as if they did nothing wrong.


The unique ones


The snorer

Also encountered this one a few days ago. I was nearly in Brussels when I suddenly heard the very distinct noise of a very loud rumbly snorer. You should’ve seen everybody’s faces when they heard someone snoring like that. Everyone was shocked and looking around who was the snorer :p It’s a really annoying sound, but I guess he couldn’t really help it, it’s better on the train then in the bed next to you.


The open mouth chewer

This one was really gross. Was sitting opposite this man while he was eating an apple. He was chewing with mouth open, so you could see the whole chewing process going on, and on top of that he was making the annoying smacking noise along with it. When finishing the apple he took some chewing gum. And he chewed it the exact same way as the apple. It was like watching a cow, you couldn’t see what on earth he was chewing on for so long and he kept making the noise, was like watching a mental person. Try sitting in front of that for half an hour, really annoying!

So that’s my list so far! More to come probably. Have you met any annoying people on public transport? Let me know!