bus stops

Wow that is an exciting title for a blog post - but I have been musing the randomness of bus stops recently. I use buses a lot now - seeing as I've moved out to the sticks and I've had some interesting conversations at the bus stop opposite my house. But it has struck me how randomly British these conversations usually are. They often go something like this:

Lou walks up to bus stop - sits down on cold, red plastic bench next to person A who is starring intently to the right.
They sit in silence until Lou sums up the courage - then,
Lou: makes some inane comment about the weather or the buses (buses usually work better)
Person A: agrees with inane comment - then continues to tell Lou their entire life story.
Lou: makes sympathetic noises and wonders how to talk to them about Jesus (more exciting than buses)
While this is happening both Person A and Lou alternate between looking at each other and looking to the right. At least one of them must glance to the right every 10 seconds.
Bus arrives (from the right) - Lou and Person A get on - they sit nowhere near each other and don't speak again.

This has happened sooo many times.

This is what happens on the way home:

Lou walks up to an AMAZING talking bus stop in the centre of Brighton and turns on her magic key fob.
Bus stop: Churchill Square stop E and F
People around looked surprised / puzzled
Lou presses the righthand button on her key fob
Bus stop: (now impersonating Stephen Hawking) The 5B to Hollingbury is due in 13 minutes.
People around continue to looking surprised / puzzled
Lou waits a few minutes and then presses the button again
Bus stop: The 5B to Hollingbury is due in 4 minutes
(they are never actual minutes - they are just periods of time)
Some surrounding people now trying to work out how it works and what triggers is
Lou feels smug and powerful
Bus arrives
Lou sadly turns off her key fob of joy and gets onto the bus.