I’m on the train on my way to work, a new assignment in the middle of nowhere. An hour and half commute three times a week for now and probably four times a week from January. I always sit in the space where people can leave their bikes if they travel with one. There are two different spaces, one that has two extra seats opposite each other where the bike space is next to it -with fold down chairs- along the side of the train. And the other where there are only fold down chairs on both sides of the train.

The latter is a pain because when the train drives you basically move sideways which is nauseating to me at times. Anyway… I’m currently moving sideways as I write this. On my right side are three seats very close to each other.Opposite of me there are four. Because I move sideways I can see the two other people next to me from the corner of my eyes. This is when I noticed that the woman at the far end was doing something I’ve also seen many times on the tube in the UK. She is doing her make-up…

Ever since I’ve seen someone doing this on the tube I’ve mixed feelings about it. Doing your make-up on the train -in my opinion- is something you simply don’t. To me it is something private and I would never do this in public. It already gets on my nerves when I am in the bathroom getting ready and my partner watches closely let alone on a crowded train. In London some of these women would even carry an extra handbag for all the containers with blusher, eyeshadows, lipsticks, foundation and powder.

I have mixed feelings about this because to me it’s something private that you do at home and not on public transport. On the other hand I admire their skills to put it on without smudging their faces. But my goodness… The amount of warpaint that some of them use is shocking! Today the man sitting opposite of me is watching each and every move of the woman on my right with extreme interest. The disapproving look on his face says it all really. I can’t help but grinning quietly as I watch the performance…