Lines (Queues)

I think that I'm often pretty decent at finding the line that is going to have me
standing there for the shortest amount of time. I tend to be fairly observant which I think is the key... I don't think any queuing theory that I learned in school is really all that helpful beyond the most elementary rules, which everyone really knows anyway, just not in a formal way.

I've been meaning to write this post since my trip back from the U.K., where I encountered a setup at Heathrow (the security line at terminal 3 for those of you who know the airport) meant to thwart any attempts reason out which path will be quickest. Basically the setup is that there are two lines that approach an enclosure from opposite sides... if you peer in, which I did (it's helpful to be tall) you can see that the lines are symmetric inside, so I went with the line that was shorter on the outside (which, predictably, was the one that was farther away from the origin point for all the people lining up).

Everything was going swimmingly, I was through the checkpoint a good 10 people in front of where I would have been in the other line when I got through the security pre-screening... at which point you are passed on to another set of lines that are not visible from the pre-screening lines. Not only that... but the choice that you made of which pre-screening line to take has now locked you in to which set of security gates you are going through. As it happens, the one that I chose was serviced by only one security gate, while the other line was serviced by two. Not only that, but there was a line to even get to where the security gate line started.

I think that I lost those 10 spots that I had gained, and perhaps even more. The end result was really that I lined up for longer than I wanted to...I was in no danger of missing my flight or anything so catastrophic... but I just wanted to get through the line!

Here are a few rules of thumb that I use to find the quickest line (feel free to suggest some additions!):

1. Two servers are better than one: If there is a line that has two people serving it, it will almost invariably be faster regardless of the length of line. The truth is that people will more often choose the shorter line thinking it will be less time even if the slightly longer line clearly has higher throughput



2. One and a half servers are better than one: Where do you get 1.5 servers? Well, as it happens, often at the airport when you are heading through customs, there will be one line that is for flight crew and disabled people... but there really aren't enough of those special types of people to occupy a whole line, so often when that server has no one in their line, the will take someone from the adjacent line.



3. The line farther from where most of the people come from is often shorter: Chalk this one up to "people are lazy". When people are looking for a line, they often end up in the closest line, not the shortest line... they only look to move lines if the first line is exceedingly long.
   
   
4. Younger usually equals faster: This one is just a rule of thumb, remember. Barring someone in training (which can usually be spotted by a trainer or manager nearby), younger cashiers tend to scan, bag and give change more quickly than someone older.

A few other miscellaneous points: look for new line opportunities (i.e. a new cashier is about to open), if it's available, self-serve is usually fastest and don't get overly agressive... it's just a line.

-kdh

Visit to Lewes

If you are reading in your head, it may be helpful to know that the name of that town is pronounced half way between "Lewis" and "Lewus" as a Torontonian might pronounce it. (I was going to put "Canadian"... but there is far too much variation for that to have gone by without a comment from someone... not to say that my job here is to write so that no one need comment... how do I so often get so far off track?)

Lewes, in East Sussex in England is the current home of my friends Julian Patrick and Sophie Thomas and their two children Asa and Helen. Many of you know, Julian and Sofie were my landlords for several years when I split a house with most of the people to whose blogs my blog links, and Julian is also my long time squash partner (although, he's only been in Canada 4 months out of each of the past three years).

In any case, as I found myself in England this past weekend, and freed from the chains of the work week, I took the train down to Lewes (remember... it doesn't sound like a reference to Karen, Dion and Adam) on Friday night.

My trip started with a leg from Cheltenham (where I'm staying) into Paddington Station in Kensington in London. I noticed at one point that the name of the station we had stopped at was "Reading"... I had taken a ride on the Reading Railroad! I did of course realize that this is not, in fact, the Reading Railroad of Monopoly fame... and moreover... it's not even pronounced the same! The brits pronounce it as a Torontonian might pronounce "Redding" (I just realized that there may be someone reading who doesn't know anyone from Toronto, so if there is imagine Peter Jennings, John Roberts (news anchor, not Chief Justice) or perhaps any national news anchor in the U.S. (incidentally, John Roberts (formerly J.D. Roberts) used to be a DJ on CHUM's MuchMusic) and if you don't know any of them, too bad)

After the Reading Railroad and a transfer from Paddington Station to Victoria station through the London Tube and a quick jaunt down to Lewes on the regional line, I was warmly met at the station by Julian and quickly lead a short ways to their house. I got a quick tour of their house and sat down to a pot of tea and some chatting. Helen had gone to bed before I came in, but Asa arrived in short order. Despite being the second youngest in the room, it made me feel a bit old to realize how grown up Asa is now. I guess that's what happens.

The next day I was eating breakfast talking to Helen when I had a feeling of deja vu. I got a flash back to when I was on the other side of the "you may not remember me, but I knew you when you were yay high" conversation. She did remember me though, as I have seen her as recently as two years ago and a bunch of times on and of over the past few years. Sofie had a university "do" down in Brighton, so I spent the morning and early afternoon with Julian and the kids on a whirlwind tour of Lewes (and it's castle, attending the kids' piano lessons, and traipsing about the English countryside with some great views of the downs (they really look more like "ups" to me). After lunch, Julian and I took our leave for the main event... our squash match! I had brought my gym clothes, and I borrowed Asa's squash racquet and we headed down to the local club. The match was cut a bit short when Julian (who doesn't stretch really) pulled a bit of a muscle in his back... I could tell that he desperately wanted to continue, but he was in quite a bit of pain.

This is becoming quite a long post, gosh! After a couple more fantastic meals (Sophie made dinner, and Helen made muffins for breakfast) Julian and I headed down to the coast for a hike along where the downs meet the ocean... the chalk cliffs. The are some pictures of both Lewes and the cliffs that I've posted here.

On my trip home, I took the reverse route, but there was one little wrinkle, the circle line (the tube route that has both Paddington and Victoria) was closed for construction (a notice of which I had observed on the way through the first time), so I walked. I wish I had had a watch because I ended up rushing a little more than I needed to... I was a bit paranoid about missing my train.

Anyway, I had a really wonderful weekend, and made it "home" without any problems.

-KDH

Not an accurate blog name

I'm not in Toronto. I know, I know.. there have been several times this year that I have not been in Toronto and I didn't point it out then... so why I am pointing it out now.

Dunno.

I'm in jolly old england, sitting in an apartment trying to go to sleep, but my body thinks it's still 8pm... so I'm not tired, as you can imagine. My flight over was fairly uneventful (which is always good) and I actually had three seats all to myself (I hope I get so lucky on the way back).

Anyway... time to try to sleep.

-KDH