A Hazy Shade of Winter
Today I have a Neil Simon, 1967-68 preppy, NY in the fall/winter kind of feeling. Wrap up well and don't forget your college scarf. Not that I have any experience of the place in that season or any other. It was alien territory usually viewed from the cheap seats in the local flea pit. Delis, diners, downtown, dimes and DAs, America - then - still seemed glamourous, vital and class-free. Simon and Garfunkel's "Bookends" album is currently reminding me of how I used to feel.George and his pals however are, once again making the country look anything but. Russia, France and Germany banned from bidding for Iraqi re-building contracts because they represent a security risk to the USAs interests. Just what this threat is isn't explained. Furthermore, there will be no restriction on successful companies sub-contracting the work out to the countries in question. So French contractors = security risk. French sub-contractors = no problem.
Capitol Hill doesn't do itself any favours does it ?
Grey, December days that should be full of snow have arrived bringing only rain. The Xmas rush continues unabated and life's little annoyances still rankle.
Being a "Thoroughly Modern Millie" I acquired some presents via t'internet. They arrived today as promised, via a "courier" in a white van.
"Sign 'ere mate" said the jolly courier chap after he had presented me with a boxed item that had clearly been hit with something - a hammer possibly, who knows ?
"Errrr....'scuse me but this box is damaged."
"Oh yeah...hmmmm. If yer quick an' yer phone 'em before twelve, they'll send yer a replacement." He proffered the pen once again indicating that I should 'sign 'ere'.
A thousand thoughts go through your mind at such moments.
"Why can't things run smoothly, why does everything have to be accompanied by extraneous hassle ?"
"Why can't he just take it back and deliver an undamaged one?"
"Why does this bloke - a courier for God's sake - seem to think that the damage has got nothing whatsoever to do with him and his couriering abilities ?"
"Oh balls to it, where do I sign........."
After drilling deep into the menu system that fronts Argos' telephone help line, I am told that a replacement will be delivered next Monday sometime between 8am and 6pm. How's that for a window ?
So, will Ms Carr become a Hindley for the 21st century ? Well obviously a lot depends on the outcome of the current trial, but I must say that this mug shot of the accused could possibly acquire the notoriety of the one of the moors murderer that we know so well.Sometime in 1965 at the tender age of 11 I stupidly got into a car with a man and a blonde woman after they had stopped and asked me for directions. I couldn't explain properly - or so they said - so they asked if I'd show them. Adults you see, in those days you were taught to be polite to them and, well the polite thing to do was to comply with their request.
The minute we moved off I realised to idiocy of what I was doing and I become very scared. Neither of them spoke to me as we drove along. It was only afterwards I remembered that they supposedly hadn't known where to go. Fortunately for me we came to a level-crossing and a train was coming. We stopped and I quickly opened the door and ran and ran and ran.
Was it Brady and Hindley ? Well it could've been. Two of their victims came from areas not far from where I lived. It still gives me nightmares.
Nice to see France taking its secularism seriously. Pity we've got a leader who thinks he's got a friend who lives in the sky.
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