First Class

In a Britain when everything seems to be going to the dogs and the latter being increasingly abandoned because of sky high vets fees, due in no small part to the antics of the present government/coalition/circus (delete as you believe appropriate) - the media of the land can find space and time yesterday to debate the distressing story that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne - he would must not normally be named, the black villain of the hour - has had the temerity to travel first class - FIRST CLASS! - on a train journey with his wife.
Oh, the wailing and gnashing of teeth - how could he? Is this further proof (it were ever needed) that a member of the cabinet would not wish to be seen dead with the plebs? Well, yes and no. After all, he is a Tory and is not short of a bob or two, unlike the rest of us who because of his creative accountancy and rising costs think our self fortunate to be able to travel by train at all.
Putting that aside for the moment (you may be assured I will return at a later time to this) let us for a moment ponder on why anyone would choose to travel first class at all and pay the extortionate price for moving one carriage up.
I have over the last few years had occasion to travel by rail to and from conferences, interviews etc. Whenever possible within my meagre means I have striven to find the extra  to travel first class , not because I am a snob or have vast amounts of wonga lying about the house or in my bank account. Simply because I wanted to reach my destination without having spent the previous hours listening to indecipherable music from earphones/loud mobile conversations (HELLO, HELLO - YEH, I'M ON THE TRAIN!)/screaming babies and children/screaming parents/unseated passengers staring at you from the aisles wondering when you are getting off/drunks/dirty coffee stained ( I hope) tables - I could go on. Whereas in First Class, their is an air of quiet confidence, slightly audible tapping of laptops and the rustle of daily broadsheets, free water and beverages and attendants who smile and wish you a pleasant day. No brainer really for George really, was it?