10.03.10 - observations, occurrences and other oddities

During the course of my day, I see life as it trundles by. Travelling at it's own pace, it brings with it the random happenings that people seem to do, almost unaware of themselves or of others around them.

Like the middle aged woman, clad only in her barely opaque camisole and palazzo pyjamas, who was vacuuming out her car, on the main street at midday. She was so engrossed in her efforts that she seemed totally oblivious that she was leaving nothing to the imagination.

Or, the plump woman today, as I collected kids for the school run. She was walking her equally plump chocolate labrador, in her aquamarine and cream tartan style pyjama pants, scruffy olive green fleece, luminescent pink socks and turquoise plastic clogs. Her hands were held aloft whilst they were encased in plastic shopping bags - ready to swoop and pick up dog poo from the now greatly relieved dog. As we drove passed she waved cheerily with the lumpy poo filled bag.

How about the woman, who was waiting at the bus stop. Warmly wrapped up in cream and brown fleeces and cords.........and what looked like a rather large pale blue jelly fish on her head. On closer inspection, it was a woolly hat with long curling tendrils - beautifully hand made.

Then there is the tall thin man, not local - with a Midlands accent and his chubby labrador - chocolate (I am seeing a pattern here) The dog is taking him for the walk, not the other way round.  The dog goes to visit all 'his friends' who pat him and make a fuss, feeding him titbits, whilst the owner hovers at the end of the lead looking excruciatingly embarrassed whilst trying to entreat the dog to continue on their walk. He inevitably fails and stands until the dog has had enough - only then, do they set off.

The village also has a variety of 'demon grannies' who are owners and drivers of mobility scooters - at great speed.  Pedestrians have been known to leap off the pavement into the path of the bus rather than be run over by said grannies........ Sadly, there is less of these aged biker chicks, there is always less after a hard winter.

I am not immune to these peculiarities of village life.
I have walked up the main street with a barrow full of plants or tools whilst the on coming bus has halted to let me by............
Or wandered out down to the post office or library, still clutching a mug of tea - such a shame to let it go cold..........

Himself and a few other foolhardy locals have been known to race each other on kids scooters. Downhill, from top the the village to the bottom, late, late, late at night, usually fuelled by something alcoholic and usually in fancy dress...........I have many photographs to prove it - one day these pictures will prove useful, its surprising how many respectable villagers have been in these races :)

Sheep have wandered through, chickens often do. 

Grannies meander and natter, children run and shout. 

Some folk walk as if on a mission, others walk as if lost. 

Hikers tramp enthusiastically and pensioners tread carefully. 

Horses, dogs walkers, cyclists, cars, buses, motorbikes.

Constant movement, 

a constant flow,

 a constant source of amusement and stories to tell.