Tag Archives: dignity

Dignity v Whining

I’ve just been watching a news item on TV about electric scooters. One man described how his elderly brother died as result of falling when trying to move a badly parked scooter, another, partially-sighted, man told of his several near miss experiences.

I don’t particularly like the things and think that a lot needs doing about the way they are used and left all over the place, but I have to admit that they seem popular and may be doing something useful. I actually doubt that they are useful, because the people who are using them don’t seem of an age where they would be using a car instead. They seem to be of an age where they would be using buses or skateboards.

On Wednesday Julia was the victim of a near miss when she walked into a supermarket and two youths on electric scooters entered the shop on scooters. She felt the wind of their passing (no social distancing either). They clearly aren’t suitable for shops but in the absence of a sudden appearance of brains or manners, it looks like this will become more common. I didn’t mention it at the time because it simply isn’t possible to rant about every single thing that annoys me.

My point? That it’s possible to go on TV and deliver a point in a dignified manner without demanding “answers” and “justice”. See yesterday’s post, and some of the comments made about my use of the word “whining”.

It’s also possible, as we can see on many blogs, to discuss the challenges of life in a thoughtful and dignified manner. Part of this might be because it’s easier to do this in writing, where the TV is not such an easy medium (though they did mange it this morning).

I’m off to work now, see you later.

A Depressing Day – Apologies to my Readers

I have bemoaned the fact, in recent posts, including yesterday, that I am becoming rather dull-witted with age.

Today I have been handed a reminder that although I may be in mental decline, some people, even at their peak, are not exactly blessed with brain cells. However, this does allow them to plough forward with tunnel vision, and does not necessarily mean that being able to think things through is an advantage.

Sadly, I can’t tell you much about it as it may yet come to court. I’ve been told how much it will cost me to settle and it’s a price I’m prepared to pay if it makes the problem go away. As the person in question has acted in bad faith all through the “negotiation” (which feels more like I have been mugged) I don’t actually trust them and I want to keep something in reserve.

The truth is that I have made concession after concession in an attempt to reach an amicable conclusion and I have, as a result. had more and more demanded of me. They haven’t paid a penny so far and they haven’t conceded a single point.

However, it’s only money. Whether they accept it in the end is another matter as I can’t help thinking that there is more trouble in store.

It’s a story waiting to be written. I had the note through the door six hours after my father died and I have used everything he taught me – manners, conciliation, and that money isn’t everything, in trying to deal with things tactfully.

The negotiation and the recollections of my father would make two parallel strands.

I’m not sure about the ending, but whatever happens to the garden fence I will walk away knowing I behaved properly and that my father would approve. I will also walk away knowing that people who behave badly seem to end up getting their way and taking the money.

Not cheery, but artistic.

Working title – “Karma would be better if you could hit people with it.”

I’ll put in a honeysuckle picture to lighten the mood. It was going to be a cat but the media system is playing up, as usual.