What's in a name....and words.....

On a trip to London yesterday I travelled by train, via Euston Main Line station, at 17.00 - rush hour .....oooph... Over the years I've always been successful in buying a copy of the British periodical magazine "Opera" at Smith's Stationers and Bookshop, inside the station. So I scoured the shelves for a copy and couldn't find one; as it's quite a small magazine (A5) I thought it might be hidden by another .. Enquiring of the sales assistant if they had a copy anywhere in the store, she directed me to their other branch, just across concourse, within the station. Battling my way through the somewhat frustrated crowd of intending passengers - the atmosphere was tense because of problems with signalling equipment somewhere north of London - total disruption of services, little information, and frayed tempers, I eventually reached Smiths' other shop. All was calm inside as most of their usual customers were more intent on travelling than reading ! "Good evening. Do you have a copy of the 'Opera' magazine, please ? " I asked a very nice young man assistant. He confirmed that he did, but had to go and fetch some from the store, with which he made his way to a door, with pin code security lock, and disappeared down circular stairs into the cellar ... This made me wonder what might be in the magazine to have such secure storage.....? After several minutes the young man emerged triumphantly with an armful of large glossy magazines. As I hadn't seen a copy for several months I assumed (!) that " Opera" had been "vamped up" - often done to justify a price hike. With a gorgeous, beaming, triumphant smile he politely handed me a copy - "There you are Madam" . Thanking him smilingly, without looking at the mag., I was taken aback when I clapped my eyes on the cover.....staring me in the face was a very impressive photograph ooooof - Oprah Winfrey ....well, reeeeally.....When he saw my wide grin become even wider, and realised I was about to have a fit of the giggles, he looked bemused - until I regained enough dignity to explain the misunderstanding. He then joined in the frivolity - it certainly cheered up the atmosphere in that area of the station. At one point, literally elbowing my way through the dense crowd to exit, my mind fleetingly flashed up a window, computer style, "Ask if anyone wants to breathe", (to lessen the tension) - it was the shortest thought I've ever had and passed like lightning as I scanned the harassed, mainly city workers, suffering the daily grind of commuting. They may earn megabucks, but oh, what an unhealthy life - most looking like zombies - they sometimes start at 04.00 to be on line with the worlds' financial markets, and on the train home, much later (many services had been cancelled during the evening, and a 35 minute journey took 1 hour 45 minutes in a 'sardine tin crush' on the train......) my neighbour was on the laptop and mobile for the whole journey. In that time I discovered from 'phone calls to her daughter and friends, that she had flown in the day before from Washington, U.S. of A, and hadn't been able to connect anywhere with her husband, anywhere in the world for the past 5 months ..! They visit their house in Berkhamsted individually to organise builders who are restoring their house .....I took in a deep breath and thanked providence that I am out of the "rat race", oooh, phew.....Trouble is one can't help overhearing such conversations, and the speakers seem oblivious of the fact that they are in a public arena - how often do we all do it ...? Enough for today - except that a weather forecaster has just informed listeners that "today we will have "shars" - we will have what ?? Oh - "showers" - my, my - zee inglisch az she iz schpoke ....gor blimey 'n all that........k..p b.......g......