HAVING YOUR CHIPS

At the end of a cycle ride to Bradfield Woods last spring I found myself back at Thurston railway station. I had to wait for the train on which my bicycle was booked. I decided to cross over to the far platform as a group of children, in their early teens, were on the other. They weren’t intending to catch a train but obviously used this regularly as a place to meet after school. I had noticed their cycles close by. They also had several bags of chips, purchased from a van not far away.

As soon as the youngsters left I went across to the correct platform, noting how much litter they had left despite a large litter bag nearby. They had also dropped many chips, some whole, some half-eaten. As I sat there I became aware that I was no longer alone and I began to wonder if I had somehow drifted into a parallel world where they were remaking scenes from ‘The Birds’ film.

The birds in question were rooks from a colony just behind the station. It was not so much their calling as their gradually growing numbers that alerted me. Some landed on the opposite platform, some on top of the glass covered seating area, some on low tree branches, some strutted along the platform and the most adventurous flew to the far end of my platform. Seemingly they had waited for the children to go and my presence was an extra nuisance to them.

I picked up the larger and heavier chips and with a mighty swing of the arm managed to get several across to the other platform. They were quickly seized and devoured.
The train was twenty minutes late. I imagine after my departure the rooks made short work of the rest and I was left wondering whether they wait hopefully there at weekends too.