I pretty much had the carriage to myself, but then, just before the train left the station 2 adults and gaggle of ankle biter appear.

“Do you want to sit at a table?” the more shrill adult says to her progeny, standing next to my table.

“I already am”, I think to myself, “go and spread yourselves somewhere I’m not. There are at least 3 other empty tables in this carriage alone.” They all sat down next to me. I grumpily moved out of my slouching position to make room.

Within minutes, one of the kids made a grab for the shiny iPod. I moved it out of the way and put it down by my side. Then two of the kids start arguing over a book, engaging in a tug of war over the magazine I was reading propped up on my side of the table. I hear no remonstrations from the adults. Admittedly, I had my iPod turned on, so I there might have been something said, but I saw no evidence of the usual “the man will be angry if you don’t behave”.

I just don’t get it. We all have to share public transport, so why on a nearly empty train do people have to come and inflict their kids on other passengers (i.e. me). I would go as far to say it is rude. It shows a disregard for your fellow passenger. You might find your kids annoying, but at least put them somewhere they only annoy you, not others. They should invent some sort of ASBO for people like that.

Or, users of public transport should be given un-removable stickers with “A Bloody Menace” to stick on annoying kids..