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Original poster

To tell you about my awkward train encounter 5 mins ago?

242 replies

SundayCherry · 02/10/2023 10:28

On a very long train up to Scotland. 4 hour journey, I’m 40 mins in and all seats are taken- everyone in their ticketed seat. I’m sat there with my book and a coffee when the lady sat next to me took off her shoes (bare feet). Well I feel mean but the smell is horrendous. A real sweaty cheesy feet smell that’s so strong. I dealt with it for about half an hour but it’s so difficult and distracting.

So I decided to buck up the courage (im not very confrontational) and ask the lady if she would kindly mind putting her shoes back on and as she speaks another language she basically said she couldn’t understand me despite me pointing at the shoes- she now has her eyes shut trying to sleep (shoes still off and against the seat of the chair in front)

I really can’t bear to put up with the smell for another 3 hours but there’s no seats to move to! There’s also lots of stops and I want to get comfy and not have to move seat about ten times when people come from other stops.

What should I do?

OP posts:
SpidersAreShitheads · 03/10/2023 06:17

Glasgowgal200 · 02/10/2023 18:53

Throw the shoes out the window!!!!!!

I was thinking along these lines haha! Although my thought was to subtly kick her shoes backwards down the carriage under the seats so she'd have to go scrabbling around looking for them. Out of the window is a much better alternative 😅

CharlieBoo · 03/10/2023 07:02

Oh good sounds awful.. I once was stick on a national express coach travelling to Newcastle (hood 6 hour journey from me) and the coach was rammed and I was sat next to this huge guy who absolutely stunk of BO! I couldn’t even eat my packed lunch .. Still remember it 25 years on lol .. the trauma

Ramalangadingdong · 03/10/2023 07:10

I don’t know how you did it, op. For me constantly changing seats would have been preferable.

Justleaveitblankthen · 03/10/2023 07:20

Passepartoute · 02/10/2023 11:25

Who routinely carries spray deodorant around with them?

Show quote history

I'd be more pissed off if someone started spraying aerosol around.
It makes my chest ache and I can barely breathe.

Maireas · 03/10/2023 07:29

SpidersAreShitheads · 03/10/2023 06:17

I was thinking along these lines haha! Although my thought was to subtly kick her shoes backwards down the carriage under the seats so she'd have to go scrabbling around looking for them. Out of the window is a much better alternative 😅

Show quote history

Do windows open on intercity trains?

Gypsum5 · 03/10/2023 07:47

It could’ve been announced at every station to shame the stinker.

MrsMara · 03/10/2023 09:40

Oh be gone with the cries of racism 🙄The smelly mare was beyond anti-social and then cunning by feigning non comprende.

I just won't put up with shit like this anymore and would have insisted on her putting the rancid shoes back on.

I get that not everyone will confront a situation but this type of scummy behaviour needs calling out imo.

SamPoodle123 · 03/10/2023 09:57

I would have sprayed her feet with perfume or cologne if I had with me. Or made gagging noises and point to her feet and hold my nose....

JennyJenny8675309 · 03/10/2023 10:33

Forget the deodorant and carry roach spray in the future. 😖

Thinking2022 · 03/10/2023 19:03

Funny!

GirlOfTudor · 03/10/2023 19:33

She has to be doing it on purpose to get you to move. Either you stink too, or she wants to have your seat and stretch her legs out to sleep!

Tonty · 03/10/2023 19:54

I nominate this thread for Classics!

Londoner89 · 03/10/2023 20:01

I find it very difficult to believe that this woman does not understand you when you told her that her feet smell.

She’s in the U.K., she was able to buy the correct train ticket, board the correct train, go out and about and, presumably, show her ticket when asked.

That CF behaviour alone would have got some very blunt behaviour back from me. I would have got a photo of some poo up on Google, showed her the screen, pointed to her feet and pinched my
nostrils with a disgusted facial expression.

CF.

Lostcotter · 03/10/2023 20:21

saltinesandcoffeecups · 02/10/2023 17:57

And I think this where being an American comes in handy. At some point after being polite with no results there would a a blunt “Lady your feet smell like rotten cheese please for the love of god put your shoes on and book a doctors appointment. That smell can’t be healthy”.

This is what I love about Americans 😂

Zone2NorthLondon · 03/10/2023 20:40

Octobermeterreadtime · 02/10/2023 10:52

Do you not carry deodorant? I would have sprayed her feet by now.

Who routinely,socially carries deodorant? Deodorant in a work bag,yes. Travelling,no.

Octobermeterreadtime · 03/10/2023 20:56

Can of Impulse in my handbag every day regardless of the day's plans... Thought it was quite The Norm tbh..

ColleenDonaghy · 03/10/2023 21:04

Octobermeterreadtime · 03/10/2023 20:56

Can of Impulse in my handbag every day regardless of the day's plans... Thought it was quite The Norm tbh..

As long as you only spray it in places that are well ventilated that people can leave - i.e. not in a train carriage.

Bogeyes · 03/10/2023 21:14

I would throw her shoes out of the window....horrible cow

CleanUpYourPipeline · 03/10/2023 21:18

This is when you wish you had really bad wind yourself, so you can cover up her smell. is there a free newspaper you can cover up with?

Zone2NorthLondon · 03/10/2023 21:24

Octobermeterreadtime · 03/10/2023 20:56

Can of Impulse in my handbag every day regardless of the day's plans... Thought it was quite The Norm tbh..

Not really no. Work bag,by all means . Socially,no
Impulse, the stuff of school. Crews of girls in a fug of impulse like a nuclear cloud

Balloonhearts · 03/10/2023 21:26

Just get your deodorant out and spray her feet. Or vomit on them. That'll get your point across.

Tonty · 03/10/2023 21:32

All these posters suggesting a can of spray, spray can't dissipate an odour when the source remains. It's like spraying poo with spray and hoping it will neutralise the smell. That's not how spray works!

VeronicaFranklin · 03/10/2023 21:45

Omg this has happened to me!

I was on a train and a guy got on who had been hiking and took off his walking boots and his feet stank! I was gipping, it was awful, the smell was so bad my eyes were watering! I literally walked to another carriage a stood the rest of the journey, I know it isn't an option for you on such a long trip but, honestly what is wrong with people being smelly and not realising it!!!

Dibbydoos · 03/10/2023 21:52

I've seen this soooo many times on trains, it's just minging and yes always non English speakers, though I think the ones Ive seen are European (maybe its the same person/people travelling around the UK stinking out train carriages)...

Do you have water? Spill some by accident on her feet/on her. She'll put her shoes back on then. If you have perfume spray some on her feet deliberately and smile.

People are disgusting.

I'm so sorry OP.

Hb37 · 03/10/2023 21:59

I love all these comments saying to prod her 😂 you’d probably end up with more than you bargained for. And I don’t mean bread to go with the cheese.

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