Friday 31 August 2012

Now I'm Not One to Complain, But....




I wandered calmly around the town this afternoon, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sun before the rain returned to refresh us once more.  The doleful experience of having the pathway blocked by inconsiderate people wandering with no thought for others, women barging their prams into anyone foolish enough to be consider they have a right to be alive, children, accompanied by doting parents, learning how to demand the right of way, was not one that I enjoyed thoroughly.  Not one person amongst the throng had the decency to realise that it was I passing through and move aside!  I found myself getting irked I can tell you.  

It brought to mind the programme about 'Juvenal' I heard on the BBC earlier this week. He was a Roman 'satirist,' who took to rants to express his opinion, and make his money!  His opinion of life in Rome touches the heart for anyone living in a town or city anywhere on earth.

232. "When the rich man has a call of social duty, the mob makes way for him as he is borne swiftly over their heads in a huge Liburnian car. He writes or reads or sleeps inside as he goes along, for the closed window of the litter induces slumber. Yet he will arrive before us; hurry as we may, we are blocked by a surging crowd in front, and by a dense mass of people pressing in on us from behind: one man digs an elbow into me, another a hard sedan-pole; one bangs a beam, another a wine-cask, against my head. My legs are beplastered with mud; soon huge feet trample on me from every side, and a soldier plants his hobnails firmly on my toe."

Satire 3

Juvenal has pages of rants in his book.  He appears to complain freely about everyone and everything.  A right miserable little git, or a comedian who knew his audience I wonder?  Either way I feel I could like him, I known where he comes from.  Having been young when brought up in Scotia's capital city I could cope with such crowds.  Twenty one years of London tended to give me a differing opinion.  People walk straight through you and wonder why you pick up bricks and throw them at them.  The 'elbowing' Juvenal suffered, the noise, and the noise in Rome caused much criticism, surging crowds and trampling feet all reflect life at it has been since man entered communal living around nine thousand years ago.  No wonder I enjoy the open air, the sky, and the green things that abound around here.  Why can't people just be as nice as me when out and about, that's what I want to know?  


This is irrelevant to the previous post, but funny.


So is this.....



6 comments:

red dirt girl said...

It's such a cruel cruel world for a woman ...

xxx

Kay G. said...

Hey!
You need to listen to the new album by Keane! I just did a post about their new album. It is fantastic! If you listen to the acoustic versions on Youtube, I think you might like them.

Gerry Hatrić said...

Did you hear about the chap who asked the bartender if he wanted to hear a good blonde joke?

Tha bartender says, "Look, I'm blonde, so are the two blokes on either side of you, and those two blonde girls over there playing pool are kick-boxing champions. You sure you want tell this joke?"

The guy thinks, then shakes his head and replies, "Nah! I wouldn't want to have to repeat it 4 times."

Unknown said...

They say that it is good to like yourself, and I suppose that even counts for when going by a different name in a different time. Although, I can certainly appreciate how hard it would be to like someone like yourself. That made me dizzy. I need to go see if I can land in the bed now.

Adullamite said...

RDG, What?

Kay, Doesn't work in UK! Not too keen on Keane myself.

Rob, Old joke......but I may be repeating it....

Jerry, Grrrrr!

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