The silly season this year has started early with a report in the papers about things that people have left on buses, underground trains and taxis in London. Last year, 150,000 items of lost property were found on London’s public transport. The most common were books and mobile phones, and also bags, umbrellas, wallets and passports. There were also a lot of teddy bears and wedding rings. Recently, someone left Rolex watches worth about ?25,000 on a bus. Someone else left a new plasma television set, costing over ?2,000, in a taxi. Other items left on public transport included an inflatable boat, a coffin (I think it was empty), false limbs and a lawn mower.

　　All this lost property is taken to Transport for London’s lost property office in Baker Street. If the owners do not reclaim their property within three months, the lost property office sell the items to help cover their running costs. Over half of the people who mislay valuable items reclaim them from the lost property office. But only one in three bags, one in four mobile phones and one in five books are reclaimed.

　　If you ever lose something on a bus or tube in London, go to the lost property office to see if they can find it. I have put a link to their web-site on the podcast web site. I have also included a link to a blog about life on the London underground. If you have ever travelled on London’s underground trains, I think it will make you smile.

　　NOTE:

　　1 Three ways of saying the same thing:

　　people lose things on the buses – people leave things on the buses – people mislay things on the buses

　　2 The “tube” means the deep underground railway lines in London.