Hi Everyone
Just 4 months ago an earthquake in Morrocco killed 20,000 people and left many more homeless. The epicentre of the quake happened mainly in the remote areas of the Atlas mountains where the winters are harsh. Do you remember it? Probably not because the media circus has moved on to another disaster somewhere else in the world or more likely to another conflict. No doubt there are aid agencies still working there to provide shelter and food and to help rebuild lives but for many of us it is just another news story that has been forgotten. What is still happening in Ukraine is still just as important as the day the Russians invaded the country but it is slowly dropping out of our consciousness as we have moved on to the Middle East. This week we are told that almost 20,000 children have either been orphaned or separated from their parents in Gaza. In twelve months time even that appalling statistic will have been largely forgotten by many of us but it will no doubt come back to haunt us in the years to come when some of those young people seek revenge on those that they blame for their ruined lives.
Now if you are approaching middle age, you will remember the days when there was a bus stop every few hundred yards, the buses were mostly double deckers and you rarely had to wait more than ten minutes for one to arrive. They were nearly always almost full or full. All this was because very few people owned cars and buses were an essential form of transport. As a young person sitting on a seat, if adults of any age were standing you were expected to offer them your seat, something you did almost without thinking. Last week while we were on holiday in Madeira we caught a local bus for a trip to the centre of the island. The Main Contractor managed to find a seat but I found myself having to stand holding on tightly as the bus swung around the many bends in the road. As I swayed with the bus a local lady sitting opposite, who looked to be at least seventy years old, looked at me and offered me her seat. Being the gentleman that I think I am, I politely refused her request before continuing to hang on and sway with the bus for the next half hour. Having eventually staggered off the bus, the reality of that situation suddenly struck me. Of course, I have not yet, in my mind, reached middle age but perhaps that lady who was no spring chicken herself, knew something that I am not yet prepared to admit.
Although I spent fifty years in the construction industry, I do not consider myself to be an expert at anything except perhaps for the Italian two scoop tub. It was with eager anticipation therefore that I looked forward to sitting in the sun with the Portuguese version. Having carefully inspected the various options, the favourite seemed to be the one with the ice cream tubs as seats. We ordered two scoops from the twenty flavours on offer with me of course having a tub rather than a cone. I can officially report that the quality was five star standard so a repeat experience was booked into the calendar.
On the next visit, due to the very generous scoop servings, I could only manage one scoop. This bothered me as I had spent many years enjoying two scoops and I was left wondering whether I was really approaching middle age or whether having only paid half the price, I was becoming like the Senior Partner, tight with money.
Just a thought:
My friend lost his job recently when he gave up his seat on a bus for someone else. Apparently, you are not supposed to do that when you are the driver.
Earthquakes are experts at creating ground breaking news.
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