A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum

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  • Lat-Literal
    Guest
    • Aug 2015
    • 6983

    #76
    I think I will add a bit more because it is an indication of how one lives these days.

    The perceived caring role on leaving employment never materialised even beyond a double heart bypass operation in the case of my mother and the loss of verbal coherence in my father. Society is not sympathetic. It applauds, as I do to an extent, what appears to be the ballsy way of still unnecessarily getting on buses into Croydon (without it having the accompanying worry or indeed hearing the "I can't manage this anymore" comments behind doors where suggestions that it doesn't need to be done are met with utter dismissal). Nor does it hear in neighbourhood groups where everyone talks and rarely listens the extent of loss of nouns or if it does it gently (inappropriately?) teases (as indeed does my father's brother). It is unaware, when a frail looking gentleman can hardly push his lawn mower on the grass and his son looks like an ogre for letting him do it, of the hundreds of offers in private to do that very thing which have been verbally and even physically opposed. Additionally, as food is brought round and notes are shoved through the letterbox, it appears that the man on his own who merely says "good morning" rather than being inside others' houses is the one with the strange philosophy while the married couple have no such traits.

    But elsewhere it is me who the residents' association come to when wishing to express disgruntlement that no one in the road has opposed adverse local developments. They do so knowing that I will collect letters, walk them round, speak to people about actual issues rather than engaging in small talk and then anticipate that while I am formally responding everyone else will still do nothing until the time comes. Then they will stand on a pavement and moan about whatever has transpired. New housing, yellow lines, gradient signs......it happens every time. As for the grit bin behind which a local elderly man with mental illness dumps things having raided a range of dustbins in the neighbourhood, yes, it was me who removed it all to the vocalized appreciation of the people on the corner ("Oh how kind") although they themselves also do nothing in that or any other regard. This was what I eventually assumed my true role was intended to be by society at large on being made redundant - something between a local application of civil servant skills - free - and a dustman or one who picks up after adults who are not wholly unlike children. The political councillors, the wide community groups - it's all good for them, to have such an outpost, and my normality in those scenarios is never questioned. It isn't charity. It helps me and it is also hoped somewhat forlornly that such efforts will help to keep for my parents what are not disruptive neighbours. I am, though, told by my parents to stop being, quote, "the neighbourhood policeman" and when I explain what is taking place it is usually brushed aside.

    Early this week, I was advised by them that five actual police officers were on the corner of this road. One neighbour spotted them. There was a local gathering. People gossiped. People speculated. People did not look into the reasons why at all. But they decided as communities do that they thought they had seen them looking into the grit bin. Well, perhaps not looking into the grit bin. No one was quite sure. But once they had looked into the grit bin, which they might have not looked into at all, they had found a suspect package. This was initially the version according to my mother. Consequently, the concern was that they might think erroneously that I had put that in there. After all, I clean up behind the bin. I am not to do so again because it could lead to difficulties. Essentially, I am not to do anything at all because it could lead to difficulties including getting my own food in. This led to huge amounts of personal trauma. It was the latest re-running of being dismissed by my employers because of their cost-cutting and once again it underpinned a societal insistence of dysfunction in me. I have never known anyone in my life for whom it seems so exclusively designed. It feels like a constant attack and yet it cannot be opposed because it comes at least from a few with good intentions. "Hold on.....I'll come to you" I said. The visit is to produce what can only be produced here which is an element of clarification. "Did you see it?" "No" "No? Who did?" "Well, I don't know - look I don't want an interrogation". "There is no interrogation" one replies. "we just need to establish some facts so we are clear".

    After 20 minutes, the fact - singular - is that one person thought he saw five police officers on the corner. There is not necessarily any dimension involving a bin or a package and the man on the corner hearing the questions raised either thinks I am very strange for repeating them or is pretending not to know when it may have been something to do with him. Trust breaks down all round. One thinks he will have had enough of it soon and, exactly contrary to the objective, move. Even paranoia surfaces. Would those who disliked objection to their housing development plant something there to get their own back? Ludicrous - probably. "This is a nightmare" my mother says. Dad adds: "She's only trying to help you.....I don't know what it is about" although it transpires it might have been him who first mentioned a package but he is not sure. And this is the way things tend to be, not that society sees it. I stop doing anything because my head spins and I feel so threatened by what are others' "wild imaginings". They themselves are out the next day seven miles away to buy ready meals and on their return to have a good old normal sounding laugh with the neighbours. Who would have known among all the smiling that I had been sent to Coventry for 48 hours because I had mildly suggested it might in the accounting be "just a bit of old age". "That's it" I was told "just stick us in a home". They know it's never been on my agenda.

    Two of them. One of me. An impossible situation. The aggro is perceived to be mine. I really don't think it is. Given the reduction to nothingness, I think I show considerable balance. The scary thing is that when I speak with them, I can hear Ian Fletcher of W1A in me with they and to a lesser extent the neighbours as the rest of the cast. So it isn't wholly about old age actually - it is about the wider system and how it works. It seems to have cast almost everyone in its modern image, similarly muddled and not at all what/who they were.
    Last edited by Lat-Literal; 01-10-17, 15:31.

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    • Serial_Apologist
      Full Member
      • Dec 2010
      • 37563

      #77
      Outside the local Londis I no longer use since one of the counter staff made an uninvited pass at me, a new ATM has been installed, one of the latest batch of substitutes for the two that closed down when the nearby branches of LLoyds TSB and Barclays shut. The sign behind the pane says, "This cash machine charges £1.90 for all transactions with debit cards". Directly across the street is another ATM which displays the words "Free cash dispenser". Crazy world, crazy world.

      Comment

      • jean
        Late member
        • Nov 2010
        • 7100

        #78
        Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post
        ...one of the counter staff made an uninvited pass at me...
        Never mind the boring stuff about ATMs - this is what we want to know about!

        Comment

        • Serial_Apologist
          Full Member
          • Dec 2010
          • 37563

          #79
          Originally posted by jean View Post
          Never mind the boring stuff about ATMs - this is what we want to know about!
          I remember he said "Your girlfriend?", then he gave me a wink.

          Comment

          • jean
            Late member
            • Nov 2010
            • 7100

            #80
            Don't you think you invited it just a little bit?

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            • Serial_Apologist
              Full Member
              • Dec 2010
              • 37563

              #81
              Originally posted by jean View Post
              Don't you think you invited it just a little bit?
              No. And it never happens in St Sprees!

              Comment

              • Serial_Apologist
                Full Member
                • Dec 2010
                • 37563

                #82
                A beautiful tortoishell Persian cat with a thick tail came up to me as I was on my way home this afternoon. As I stooped down to make a fuss of him (or her), a passer-by said, "I never saw anyone stroking a squirrel before"!

                Comment

                • BBMmk2
                  Late Member
                  • Nov 2010
                  • 20908

                  #83
                  Our cat Shearer, a black short haired domestic, wasn't happy this morning seeing doggies being walked today. An I'm not amused purr was coming from him!
                  Don’t cry for me
                  I go where music was born

                  J S Bach 1685-1750

                  Comment

                  • gradus
                    Full Member
                    • Nov 2010
                    • 5601

                    #84
                    Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post
                    A beautiful tortoishell Persian cat with a thick tail came up to me as I was on my way home this afternoon. As I stooped down to make a fuss of him (or her), a passer-by said, "I never saw anyone stroking a squirrel before"!

                    Beautiful indeed, our orange-eyed tortoiseshell persian cat arrived unexpectedly, being discovered in the room over our garage by my kids 25 years ago, how she got there Lord alone knows. She stayed for about 18 months and one day disappeared as suddenly as she came. Our neighbours lost their giant ginger tom - 20lbs+ - for a year before he reappeared again, seemingly little the worse for wear.

                    Comment

                    • BBMmk2
                      Late Member
                      • Nov 2010
                      • 20908

                      #85
                      Helped mum with her shopping this morning, as she had an angina attack a few days ago. Still feeling breathless, poor person, but still fiercely independent at 91!!
                      Just needed help her bags. Mind you, she was done it when we took her home, bless her. I can see her carrying on till she's 100!
                      Don’t cry for me
                      I go where music was born

                      J S Bach 1685-1750

                      Comment

                      • Serial_Apologist
                        Full Member
                        • Dec 2010
                        • 37563

                        #86
                        Originally posted by Brassbandmaestro View Post
                        Helped mum with her shopping this morning, as she had an angina attack a few days ago. Still feeling breathless, poor person, but still fiercely independent at 91!!
                        Just needed help her bags. Mind you, she was done it when we took her home, bless her. I can see her carrying on till she's 100!
                        I'm always carrying on about this and that, but not the other...

                        Comment

                        • Lat-Literal
                          Guest
                          • Aug 2015
                          • 6983

                          #87
                          Originally posted by Brassbandmaestro View Post
                          Helped mum with her shopping this morning, as she had an angina attack a few days ago. Still feeling breathless, poor person, but still fiercely independent at 91!!
                          Just needed help her bags.

                          Mind you, she was done it when we took her home, bless her. I can see her carrying on till she's 100!
                          That is very heartening bbm. We all like to get out and about so there is a constant inner dialogue about what is for the best. We do now have Wiltshire Foods in for the times when some of the more ambitious ideas are not possible. Good for mine; a bit small for me; but actually not too bad especially when a range of vegetables are added to them. Nice tastes. I have also recently investigated other home deliveries - more for me than for mine as I'm not sure where my current position will lead and they could not stand me operating a computer on their behalves. I was pleasantly surprised. Tue-Thur, daytime deliveries, from a Tesco or an Ocado every other week could cost as little as £1.75 per delivery and there is a lot of choice on expiry dates. It isn't necessarily either/or. Get the heavy stuff delivered and be free to go out every day to potter about, be with other folk, and buy a few items.

                          (My own position is very complicated - I have no real reason to think beyond what seems ok atm - but I have developed severe doubts and what has now been agreed against all expectation is that I would want if absolutely necessary a while by the sea - the so and sos will concrete over our remaining countryside anyhow before 2020. I couldn't watch that. And that, I have to say, is why I'm now wholly for Brexit. I don't want more people here and what I know deep down is if they were all incoming Brits I'd feel the same if not more so.)
                          Last edited by Lat-Literal; 27-10-17, 18:36.

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                          • ferneyhoughgeliebte
                            Gone fishin'
                            • Sep 2011
                            • 30163

                            #88
                            Originally posted by Lat-Literal View Post
                            I don't want more people here
                            Not a people person, then, Lats?
                            [FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]

                            Comment

                            • teamsaint
                              Full Member
                              • Nov 2010
                              • 25190

                              #89
                              I can't be the only one on here who thought that " Stroking a squirrel" was a euphemism ?
                              I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

                              I am not a number, I am a free man.

                              Comment

                              • Lat-Literal
                                Guest
                                • Aug 2015
                                • 6983

                                #90
                                Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post
                                Not a people person, then, Lats?
                                Well, I think, that's probably right........I like the diversity, we have been very privileged......but I'm for the British countryside first.

                                The Green Party can focus on air quality and climate change as much as it likes but I will only be calling on it - and Bez - re fracking.

                                (I've said this before - beyond our countryside, the best in the world, the BBC and the NHS in that order, this country has no point)

                                (On balance, and Brexit aside, I would get a lot of votes as an independent in an election - even if people wouldn't tell what they did)
                                Last edited by Lat-Literal; 27-10-17, 19:12.

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