So I was on the tube today on my way to work, and there were delays (of course there were). And so standing up for the duration of the journey, squashed against all those other people that live between where I live and my destination, I got a real chance to think.

The tube was jam packed, so much so that I hardly needed to hold on to the rails to stand up straight. I'm a little taller than most, and thus get a good view at people.

And people are really strange. Whether those transfixed by their iPods, those elbowing their way into reading a few pages of their book (A Thousand Splendid Suns seemed to the Northern line book fave today - hey guys, set up a book club on the tube), or those that just make sure that they look at nothing.

Why don't we talk to each other? Lots of these people that I am squashed up against live near me (those squeezed up against me all got on at the same stop), and I am sure are heading to work to do interesting jobs. We have lots in common. We're all probably very nice people. And just standing there doing very little is a real waste of time. And opportunity.

I am as bad as everyone else. Inertia? Fear of being the weirdo? Fear of being accused of hitting on somone? I have no idea. But I know that it really is a lost opportunity.