A scary moment

…in London it could happen, right? At the end of the day it’s a massive city with close to 8 million people from all over the world. Yes, we do get our bomb scares, the odd bag forgotten in the middle of a train station causes total chaos and we hear, see and eventually live a lot of bad things. But it could be worse and even if you think you are somehow accustomed to certain sights or prepared for situations, there are moments in which you just get somehow….agitated.

Last night, it’s approximately quarter to six and I’m on my way by tube from Charing Cross to Oxford Street. I could have easily done that by bus, but given the traffic that time of day I would have been late for my drinks appointment with John. So far nothing special. We arrive in Oxford Circus and the usual masses of people welcome you once you step on the platform. Honestly, it doesn’t surprise me at all that during peak times they close this station on a regular basis…you literally walk into a sea of human bodies each of which is actually walking in a different direction. Trust me, it’s possible. How, is beyond me.

So, here I am in the middle of bodies trying to find my closest exit when an automated voice comes on ” Would Inspector Sam please come to the Operations Centre immediately” and that repeated every 5 seconds. Now, I am not stupid and it helps if you have worked in hospitality before. Our chief of security at the time was very proud of his code-sentences for any sort of emergency and would randomly test us if we remembered their meaning. I know for example, that an alarm in a larger establishment, could be a hotel, goes off in the control room first and staff in charge have approx 3 minutes to either acknowledge ( and switch it off) or make it active in the entire area. Well, here I am and I know exactly what’s going to happen…3 minutes…no problem, enough time to get out of there asap without being caught in the panic.

In fact, by the time I am half way up the escalator the station goes into full alarm with evacuation. No idea why, , but this is were it gets interesting. You can clearly tell Londoners and non-Londoners apart. Panic is written on the faces of those that have never had this before and suddenly everyone gets into movement. Nobody runs though…you arrive at the barriers, which are obviously open, but the Londoner….still swipes his/her Oyster card on their way through!!!

Fantastic, I was still giggling to myself when I got out a few seconds later. We have all clearly been totally brainwashed with this Oyster Card thing – swipe in and out, and even a tube station evacuation does not affect that. I say we, because somehow and unintentionally I did it myself. I still do not know why or what made me do that…but hey, I guess I am brainwashed myself.

I really hope nothing major happened, I think I heard a siren later on, but the fire brigade was going in the opposite direction. So, this whole system does actually work – even in one of the busiest tube stations in Central London. Well done guys. I have to admit though that even if I was smirking to myself my heart was racing. I guess I am not totally used to this as yet…even after living here for 6 years.

Oh yes, this definitely is worth a mention: as of 15th October I have officially been in London for 6 years. Scary or what? Not as much as a tube evacuation, but still…it has a certain importance.

Good night

Me x