Yesterday we found out that dogs on seats were 'out'. What could possibly make us not want to sit next to children on seats? Here's a response below. I am impressed with the bare feet.
Today we find out that dogs on seats are also 'in'. This picture below comes from a performance last year of Stratford Festival's production of Billy Elliot. It was a performance to help train dogs who will be guide dogs, typically for those with autism spectrum. The training included getting up at intermission and returning to their seats for the second half.
Will there be a dog section in the future? Or will they sit in seats next to their owner. Not likely. Generally they will sit in the wheelchair area to give enough room for the service dog to lay comfortably by their side.
Look at those model train skies, thanks to Luminar's Skylum sky replacement.
This is the last week of February. Knowing our popular and unpopular months, there's a little cheer!
Here's a satirical article in the press covering the reactions to a dog sitting on the seat in a train to Paddington. Being TV news host Emily Maitlis' dog, it got some attention. The attention of this writer takes a satirical twist. It was in theguardian.com - outlining the rules of train travel int regards to seats. The basic rules is that pets are allowed on trains.
Should pets be allowed at all? "Yes – as long as you remember that not everyone likes being on trains with animals, even their own pets. If you see me on a train with my dog, you can assume that something has gone badly wrong with my travel plans. I know my dog is adorable, but I am only prepared to talk about that for a limited amount of the journey. Getting an adorable pet was not my idea. Because my dog is also small and needy, it will probably insist on spending some time standing on my lap. This is not the same as a dog on a seat, and again, it will not have been my idea. I go on trains to take a break from my dog."
What about children? "I have travelled with small children, and in my experience most passengers would rather sit next to a dog than a toddler. On a crowded train, you should give up your seat for a toddler if you have for some reason come to dislike the person you are sitting next to. Older people should be offered your seat, depending on how old they seem, and not how old they are. Do not ask for ID."
Is it ever acceptable to put a bag on the seat? "No. A bag on a seat is worse than a dog on a seat. At least the dog is enjoying the ride. Even worse than bags is feet on seats. Any attempt to cushion yourself from the possibility of having to sit next to someone is both antisocial and prone to backfire – you end up sitting next to someone who hates you and they will give up their seat to the first toddler to come along."
Should you chat to your neighbours? "It is almost never acceptable to make eye contact with a stranger on a train, even if you are facing them across a table for a five-hour journey. I am very sorry my dog does not understand this."
This made me think of how a context can make "the" difference. In comparison, dogs sit on seats at the animal hospital I go to with Dezi. Most of them, like Dezi, would rather hide under the seat and disappear.
The orchid today won't be for sale at the vendor table at the RBG orchid show this coming weekend. This is an exotic and rare lady slipper orchid typically sold between expert growers only.
