davescollections

Location:
London to Newbury (around Thatcham) under double seat - against direction of travel.

Date:
4 December 2000

Circumstances:
Andy explains the find most eloquently (and captures just some of the excitement of the hobby):

Hi Dave,

I'm really excited. I was on the train to Newbury (08:11 - I know how much you appreciate this little details) and there hiding under a chair was what I had been looking for. Well, all right not quiet everything I had been looking for, what with spiritual enlightenment being tricky to pick up from under the seat of a Thames Turbo.

No, there was a picture. A real bona fide, 'someone else's photo booth' picture. It was hiding near to the screw top of a bottle of something (possibly vodka, possibly just Martini ... who can say?).

It had obviously spent the night in a siding somewhere, or resting at
Paddington through the small quiet hours. It looked like it had been out for the night and had got lost on the way home.

I was surprised that the thorough cleaning of the Thames Train Co. had missed such a gem, but ... oh my joy at their slovenliness.

I didn't see it at first. It was trying to disguise itself as a normal,
common or garden 1 inch by 3/4 inch piece of card. Then I realised what it was, but just at that point two people got on the train and sat facing each other in the seats over the photo.

I thought my chance had been lost. I wondered what you would do in the circumstances and came to the conclusion that nothing would get between you and another photo. So I ignored it and came to terms with the fact that I was not you.

Then when we got to Newbury both of the people stood up. This was my chance ... until one of them sat back down again, only having stood in order to face the direction of travel.

DENIED!

However I snatched defeat from the jaws of politeness and reached down to his feet uttering the timeless words 'er ... excuse me I've just got to pick something up'

SUCCESS!

I was to nervous to look at it straight away and secreted it in my pocket.

As soon as I was out of the station I had a look at my trophy....

Whoopee!!
What fun.

I'm not sure whether you allow other people's finds into you collection but I would be proud for you to cast your worthy eye over the effort, and perhaps ... just if ... if met with your approval it could join all the friends of abandoned photos that are your mighty collection.

And if not you could always set it free in to the wild and let it find it's own home in a little corner somewhere in Paddington ... or in a bin.

I'll bung it in the post for the final leg of the journey.

Speak to you soon
Andy, Gill and the wonder boy

Finder:
Andy Port