Global Warning
22 November 2008
The other day, the 9.56 bus to the nearest train station was late and the people at the stop — of whom I was by far the youngest — began to grumble a little. Then, looming out of the mist, appeared the driver.
The other day, the 9.56 bus to the nearest train station was late and the people at the stop — of whom I was by far the youngest — began to grumble a little. Then, looming out of the mist, appeared the driver.
‘I’m sorry, the brakes have failed,’ he said. ‘I’m not prepared to risk your lives and they won’t be repaired until the next bus.’
The next bus — they are all decrepit round here, resuscitated from scrap heaps — was in an hour’s time. Words such as ‘typical’, ‘Third World’, ‘incompetence’ and ‘economic crisis’ ran angrily through my mind.
‘Thanks very much for letting us know,’ said the old ladies at the stop with genuine gratitude at his concern for their lives, and then they went off happily in search of a cup of tea.
This morning the bus was on time. A man in his seventies with crutches stood at the first stop after I had got on. Opening the door, the driver called out to him, ‘We don’t stop here no more. You’ll have to use them sticks to hobble to the next stop.’
Everyone laughed. The man with crutches was a regular. At the next stop, a woman in her sixties with a progressive degenerative neurological condition got on and found her seat in front of me with jerks and stumbles. ‘Don’t mind me, dear,’ she said to me. ‘I’m only dancing.’
An admirable people! Not like those who have replaced them, such as I: querulous and brittle in their self-importance.
More articles from: Theodore Dalrymple | this section
Post this entry to: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
Advertisement
The present Queen succeeded to the throne 60 years ago…
The City is used to ignoring MPs, because they don’t matter. Or at least they didn’t
It’s not strange that bankers have so much more money…
Ancient and modern: Call that a spectacle?
The Grand Olympic Opening Ceremony will apparently inform us ‘who…
I write this having just returned from the BBC, where…
The Wiki Man: The best thing since wheeled suitcases
I had a Land Rover Discovery once. It was expensive…
Popular Blogger Posts
1 Terry shouldn’t be captain, but that should be Capello’s decision to make - Rod Liddle
2 Snow? What snow? - Rod Liddle
3 Do we really need to know more about Gary Speed’s death? - Rod Liddle
4 JFK: The Nastiest President of the Twentieth Century? - Alex Massie
5 Scottish Labour Embrace the Logic of Independence - Alex Massie
sponsored links
THE PRESENT FINDER
1,700 Unusual Christmas Presents Request Catalogue 01935 815 195 Quote SPEC10 for 10% discount www.presentfinder.co.uk
OLIVE BRANCH FLORISTS
Pimilco based Florist with online ordering Web: www.olivebranch.net Tel: 020 7630 1868 Fax: 020 7233 8844
RUFFS Bespoke Signet rings
62 Shore Road, Warsash, Southampton, SO31 9FT Telephone: 01489 578867 Web site: www.ruffs.co.uk
Apollo Magazine | Corporate | Advertising | Privacy | Terms
Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP
All Articles and Content Copyright ©2012 by The Spectator | All Rights Reserved
name withheld
November 24th, 2008 3:42am Report this commentI get a little kick out of meeting a new doctor every time I visit the practice.
Mostly they are female and now and again can be capricious in deciding whether to prescribe requested drugs or not.
The male doctor has no such scruples.
It is a bit odd, though, when you are asked by other British government bodies to give the name of your doctor.
All I can ever say is that his or her surname is 'Practice'.
Back to top