RuudBoy's Blogs

It was 10:00 at night on Sat 18th Oct 2014.

I was returning home after photographing a family "do", and had my SLR camera bag over my shoulder. I'd just been to the gents on Romford railway station, and as I was going back down the ramp to the other platform, I passed a young man in his early 20's. Nothing unusual there, (although he looked 'cute')

Back on the Colchester bound platform, I see him go down the ramp on the London side ... and he appears back on my platform. Nothing unusual there either.

But then ... he walks behind a hut on platform ... perhaps to have a "wee-wee", (but hey, he's just left gents me think) So I do a casual "peekaboo" at a distance. Our glances meet.

He then walks down to the London end of the platform where there are some railings - opposite a tall block of flats / offices for anyone who knows the area He keeps glancing up the platform in my direction. Then at one point, 'm sure he has something extra in his hand! Can't tell in the darkness of the light / dim station lighting. Nah; my imagination's running wild, surely.

After 15mins, he strolls back, passes me and stands about 20 feet to my left.

Train pulls in, and he boards train via next set of doors ... but in an almost empty carriage, he walks back past me to sit in the set of seats on the other side of the doors where I got on. At this point, there's about 8 people on the train.

At Harold Wood, I glance back to see if he'd got off; he hadn't. (I think he saw me look back) About 15 secs later, I notice he's in the door lobby area looking at me over my right shoulder. He sees me notice him, and - almost embarrased-  he jumps back to his seat (It was all over in a flash, and didn't get a chance to notice if 'flash' was an operative word, although I think I sensed a "hand movement")

Ten seconds later, he's up again, and this time sits in the seat to my right on the other side of gangway. We exchange glances, and I say "hallo". I turn my gaze up carriage ... but I sense he's staring at me. I'm not sure how to react to this. Did he just want to chat? Did he want "something extra"? Did he see my camera bag? Did he think it was a Man Bag? Or was he about to get violent. It's now around 10:30 on an almost empty train.

One thing I did notice about him was he had a star tattoo on the left side of his neck in the jugular area, About 20 seconds later, he's up again ... and moves about 10 seats further forward in carriage.

At Brentwood EVERYONE GETS OFF - except for me and Boyo! The only two on the last carriage of the train, and it's 10 mins to next station. NOW I'M PANICKING! He keeps glancing around the carrriage, and then down at his lap.

At Shenfield where the train terminates, we both get off. He seems to loiter behind me ... down the ramp and into the lobby. That is until I get directions from a station porter. He simply vanished into the high street area.

Part of me regrets not "getting to know him", but the logical side of me says I made the right decision as who knows where the situation might have gone.

What do you think? Just what was he up tojQuery18206321391512602693_1449246877521