Aghhhhh!

Over the past few days several of my blogging pals have let off steam about things that were annoying them.

Now it is my turn.

This morning I needed to purchase something (light) so I decided to walk up the town. For various health reasons this walk is not always possible or indeed a good idea. In these parts we say ‘Up the town’ when in fact it is a mile downhill to the centre of our so called shopping area from where I live. The mile uphill on the return journey is rather taxing for me nowadays. I managed my outward journey quite well, but walking along the main street I was almost pushed under a bus! It was only a single-decker so maybe if it had hit me the damage may not have been so bad!!!

So how did it happen? There were shoppers about and I was aware of a young lady approaching with a baby in a pushchair. Being polite, and one of the old school, l I moved to the outside of the pavement to give her room. She paid no attention to me and barged on past. From the side of the pushchair (closest to me), 2 enormous packets of disposable nappies were protruding. The packages hit me as she passed with enough force to knock me off balance. I ended up in the road. She must have noticed or felt the bump!

As I struggled up the hill with more aches & pains than I had on the way down I pondered on the subject of ‘Babies’ & their transport. My gripe is the fact that a) she paid no heed to other pedestrians and b) that the pushchair/buggy/ stroller or whatever you want to call it was the size of an SUV! Maybe if I had to push a tank like that about I would become aggressive.

This evening I browsed the web and was horrified to discover that one of these gigantic pushchairs might cost £300-£400. The weight of a pushchair is approximately 13kg, that’s without the baby! The assembled size is about L130 x W58 x H106cm.

I then read several reviews about these means of transport and the consensus was that they were very heavy when folded and quite cumbersome when trying to lift into the boot of a car or onto a bus. You also need a fairly large area to store them as they takes up a fair amount of room! The sunshade was useless as it didn't shade the baby from the sun at all. Finally whilst it is lovely having pneumatic tyres, it is very frustrating when you got a puncture. One lady reported having had three!

Now don’t get me started on disposable nappies……

Nick Clarke RIP

Yesterday on BBC Radio 4 we heard of the death of Nick Clarke, presenter of the World at One, the lunchtime news programme. Nick was diagnosed with cancer just a year ago. The programme was extended from the usual 30 minutes to a full hour. It consisted of a summary of Nick’s life in journalism, clips from various programmes that he was associated with over the years, and a deluge of colleagues, politicians and other public figures all telling us what a wonderful person he was.

It is good to hear how well liked and professional they considered him. But it also made me wonder – How many of those who were so moved to have their voice heard yesterday, ever actually told Nick of how they admired his qualities and skill, when he was still alive? The words may bring comfort to the family left behind, but would have been better said to Nick when he was alive.

I like to say ‘thank you’ when a gentleman holds a door open for me, the service is good in a shop or restaurant or when someone does something helpful for me. The ‘Thank You’ like a smile costs nothing and does no good when kept to oneself. It might be the first kind thing that has happened for that person all week.

Once, I was asked why I smile when I walk down the street. Well sometimes when people see you smile they think you know them and smile back. If they do know me I look like I recognise them. And if I don’t know them they might wonder what I was up to that made me smile! :D

No, there is no way I am telling you what I get up to!