Farewell London Commute

For the past year I have been doing something I never expected to; working in Central London.  I live in the Home Counties and working in London has never appealed to me and, until Jan 2012, I steered clear of every opportunity to do so.

However, my head was finally turned by a golden career opportunity to work at a major global firm at an exciting time to be part of that firm.  It has been tough work but rewarding and it is a shame that I can't continue in that role.  There are various reasons to leave but the main one is the 1 hour and 45 min commute each way.

Prior to this London role my longest ever commute was 1 hour by car.  I thought I could handle the journey for a dream job, but alas I have not been strong enough.  The length of time is dull but there are things you could do if it weren't for the standing.  Seeing as I take a bus, train and two tube journeys, you might think there would be plenty of sitting time.  No.  I get a 20 min ride on the bus and then it is standing room only the whole way.

Though standing room is somewhat of an overstatement.  In truth it is cattle class with someone's elbow in your side most of the time and someone's hair in your face on the Underground.

The future of London Commuting (circa 10 years away)

 

I know people who have never known anything else and put up with it, but I say that £5,000 a year to stand packed shoulder to shoulder is not worth anything and so I say goodbye to London.  Never again.