Playing the recorder on a train

[Lifeisontheup]

My DH has just texted me. He is on a non-stop 4 hour train journey, a reserved seat in first class and is seated with a family with two young children and is not happy. He could cope with ordinary noise from small children but one has now started playing the recorder.
Is he being unreasonable to want to murder someone? I have advised him to hit the bar whereupon he will fall asleep and his snores will drown out everything.

Is no one tutting loudly and rattling their newspapers? My DH would have exploded by now!

Yep the whole journey. The train is full otherwise he would have moved.

I expect there will soon be a thread here about the nasty old man we were forced to share a carriage with who didn't appreciate the amazing talent our little darlings showed.

OMG, what are the parents thinking?

I agree the recorder can sound lovely, when it's a proper one played well (e.g. in an early music ensemble or something). But played by a small child on a train? I think I would cry.

I am marking my place for updates, as this type of thing is very entertaining second or third hand .

All mine did the recorder [bitter], but I forbade them to practice at home, which didn't make me popular with the teachers. The noise really gets to me. Luckily, none of them took to it.

If the train is packed he will be doing himself and aaallll the other passengers a favour in snatching the bloody thing and throwing it out the window politely asking the parent to take it away.

Seriously - how up your own arse do you have to be to allow your kid to take a fucking recorder along for a long train journey on a busy train.

No-one wants to hear it! No-one!!

Sorry but he has to complain about it. It's his moral duty!

wildfig at "It is a train carriage, not a medieval banquet". I can't believe the whole carriage hasn't risen up in protest yet. Probably lots of muted tutting and sighing going on.

Your DH will be congratulated by everyone else if he puts a stop to it. Mind you, if he's sitting at the table with the children, everyone probably thinks they're his and will be giving him daggers too.

I must admit I'm finding it very funny. I will demand more details as obviously he can't read his kindle due to loud little darlings.

I want him to complain so we can hear how the parents react.

I would have been over and told asked them to stop long before now! HISNBU

"A packed train isn't the place to practice a recorder!" should do it.

Yes...he has to complain, so we can have the next instalment!

Was it on here or somewhere else I read about a child playing a tin whistle on a packed train? I think the train had broken down or something and was stuck for hours somewhere, and after failing to reason with the parents, eventually an irate passenger grabbed it and actually chucked it out of the window the whistle not the child. They got a round of applause from the other passengers.

Trains don't usually have opening windows any more, unfortunately...

I will try and persuade him Mary but what happens if they agree to stop? I might have to go and do the washing.

Please ask him to ask them to stop, and use the not a medieval banquet line, please, pretty please. I love this stuff third hand too.

More updates, are any other passengers looking pissed off or trying really hard to ignore it?

Quite right Ephiny - it's all one could do given the circumstances!

Aaarrrrgggghhhhhhhh! Entitled parents!!!!

I went to a christening once and a little child was playing with a really noisy clanky truck, and running it up and down the bench. His mother only intervened when he started running it around the bottom of the font as the vicar held the baby. As far as she was concerned, he wasn't doing any harm, and must not be upset. When she picked him up there was audible relief from everyone else.

Can't bear other people's kids

I bet theyre the sort of parents who thimk their kids are wonderful and that others sjould be grateful for the entertainment.

Wankers.

I LOVE this thread. Updates!

This reminds me of a train journey I took when was endlessly entertained by the family opposite who were cooing and clapping over little Tarquin's every shout and fart pronouncement. They then got out the lunch of olives, feta, quinoa etc, continued their obnoxiously loud parenting until Tarquin protested about being fed some tasty yoghurt-covered grainy treat. "I think it's stuck in his mouth" cried the Dad, poking his finger in, "hold on darling, let Daddy look sweetie..." followed by "SHITTING CHRIST HE BIT ME!".

Wouldn't it be funny if the mum is mn-ing on her phone and comes across this thread.

If she suddenly tells them to put it away (or encourages them to blow loudly at the man scowling at them from over the aisle) then we know she is

Must suggest to dd2 she does her trumpet practice next time we're on the train. We might get a whole carriage to ourself then.

I have requested updates. He is being very remiss in his duties to his very bored wife. I have just had my flu jab and need entertaining!

I was on the train with ds about a year ago and there was a woman with her sister and a small child sitting opposite. Thank God it was only half an hour, as all we could hear was 'Chelsea, don't do that! Chelsea, if you do that you won't get a snack from the trolley. Right, No snack now. Oh, here's the trolley, would you like a snack, Chelsea? What would you like? Chocolate, crisps, a drink, biscuits, sweeties? (child was about 2 and sitting on the table) Come on, make your mind up. Oh, look, you've dropped it on the floor, you naughty girl.'

It was so tedious, even ds was

He should hold a lighter up and start arm swaying!