"Focus on where you want to go, not on what you fear." - Anthony Robbins

It is a well known fact that society has been getting larger and larger over the years and yet designers of vehicles and buildings have not responded to the “growing population”.  Take for instance, public transport.  Buses have been designed to run more efficiently and make the journeys from 'A' to 'B' comfortable and pleasant.  The buses have reduced been from double deckers to single deckers in my City.  Less seats towards the front of the bus enables wheelchair users and those with prams to get on the bus to make travelling to and fro easier.  I have no problem with those changes, about time too I say.  However, the big problem comes when you have to move towards the back of the bus, the aisle becomes narrower.  The seats have fancy handles on the back of them, which not only inhibits those with large abdomens or large busts to get into the seat, it also stops one from sitting comfortably with a bag on the lap (shopping or otherwise).  The further down the back of the bus you go, the narrower the aisle becomes so that even walking sidewards towards a seat is as serious a problem as walking normally.

To add to the humiliation, you knock everybody sitting in the seats on your way to the back, apologising and smiling profusely and have to do the same thing when trying to get off the bus AND GOD HELP YOU IF THE BUS IS PACKED!!!!!  I don’t know about you, but I plan my journeys to and from anywhere I’m going, just to avoid the humiliation and will result in even working late (when all I want to do is go home) or getting a taxi just to avoid the hassle.  I’ve been even abused by passengers on the bus for taking up too much room on the already smaller seats and been forced off the bus now by irate passengers.  I have also been verbally abused by strangers, suggesting that I should lose weight, to which I replied that they should be mind their own business, especially as they didn’t know me.  (My words were a lot stronger, believe me).  In this day of road rage, shopping rage, train rage, the bus rage is not far behind.  I suppose if I hit out first, the papers would see it as 'fat rage'.

Car seatbelts.  Imagine my horror when they made it law to wear seatbelts in the back of cars also.  I can’t even get the seatbelt on in the front of the car and if I do manage it, it’s usually cutting across my chest, like a 'cross your heart bra' or strangling me until I complete my journey.  Seatbelt extensions have to be bought by the driver if they want to ensure that everybody is safely buckled up on the car.   The government don't give these out for free.   Why should drivers buy extension seatbelts, adding to their expense of running the car.  All vehicles, including minibuses, should be automatically equipped with longer seatbelts to ensure that everybody is safe, without adding extra finance to the owners’ pockets.  

It is highly embarrassing to be holding your seatbelt knowing that you also put pressure onto the driver to be extra careful and its even worse if you don't even feel safe with them.  I always promise myself that I’ll start my diet the next day, but then you just start to think about how much you’ve got to lose and you get depressed.

Trains and their bloody solid arm rests and tables are a nuisance too, especially on a crowded train.  I did a trip to London, three years ago in rush hour and had to squeeze into the seat and had a two hour journey with the arms of the chair cutting into my hip, witnessed by two OAPs, who also seemed intent on staring at my misfortune and staring me out until they got off the train.  I also had a couple get on at Milton Keynes who decided to sit opposite me and the woman in particular, apart from being a snob, chose to stare and turn her nose down at me.  They all made me feel as I didn't belong on the train, let alone society.  I was sitting there, wondering, what made them think that they were so god damn perfect or even normal.  I was so angry  I wanted to smack them in the face and....................  (Say no more!!), but you all know what I mean.  I don’t even use local trains anymore, despite having a train station across the road from where I live.

Shall I tell you two more things that are even more embarrassing.  One is not being able to climb into a 'people carriage' (mini bus that holds approximately 7 people) or into one the older black cabs without the drivers' hand on your arse to help you in.  The second is sitting in the back seat, knowing the mud flaps are scraping along the ground until you get out of the car!!!!!  (Ask my best mate and her husband).   

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