And breathe!
Yes, for what seems like the first time this year, a whole week had passed us by without any expensive emergencies cropping up, and long may it continue.
It gives me the headspace to look a little further afield when considering the subject matter or this week’s offering. Not too far, you understand, but certainly outside these four walls. In fact, it also takes us to the end of the street.
You see, for some time now, we’ve been suffering from intermittent road works.
Paperwork
That’s not a medical complaint, I don’t need more fibre in my diet or anything like that. No, I’m talking about good old, semi reliable, council provided digging up of the pavement and road surface that lies between us and the local shop. One of only two roads out of our estate. Something that has been both a good and a bad thing.
Disruption was always to be expected. There really was no way around it. What was, perhaps, less foreseen was just how long said disruption would last.
The whole thing started late last December and, as of writing, I’m not even sure if they’re finished as yet. The work has entailed resurfacing the road our little corner of the estate gives way to and which allow access to one of the main thoroughfares of Mirfield and also our main local shop. The kind that one might walk to to get some bread or whatever.
Kerb Your Enthusiasm
Such excursions, rare though they might be at this time of year, have been curtailed, however. Cones, barriers, and piles of excavated asphalt have made the going treacherous and not reminiscent of the old computer game Paperboy (although my mind is a little hazy on the exact details of that game, I’m sure it involved roadworks at some point).
There’s always been a way round it, to be fair, but my major gripe is knowing, before setting off, which way to go as, at times, the progress seemed quite random (as did the appearance of any workmen or machinery). Well there’s that and the new kerbs; monstrosities that seem twice as tall as their predecessors. Quite the hazard for those of us with wheels. Even the drop-kerbs have a very prominent lip to them. It doesn’t help.
Making progress by car, well that was far less of a hassle as, apart from one day (which would, of course, have to be the day I needed to ferry my always astounding wife, Tina to the doctors) , there’s always been access through the opposite end of the estate, albeit by a narrow and cramped little street that traditionally has cars parked either side of it and gives access to our street by a bend only one car at a time can navigate. The stand off between vehicles wanting to exit and those wanting to gain entry can be quite amusing, if you’re not directly involved in it.
So that’s the bad, now what about the good?
It really does make a massive difference to my progress. Having a smooth surface beneath my wheels means getting there and back is less arduous and more stable. Not having to look ahead for the next potential spillage point is a real boon, too. Think of potholes when you’re driving, but think about them while you’re sitting on an ejector seat and carrying a dozen eggs.
All of which makes it a little sad that the roadworks seem to have ceased just at the corner of my road, meaning walking the dog on a morning still holds its jeopardy and can almost be navigated by the all too familiar bumps and cracks I pass over. Almost like reading some under-wheel braille. Part of me hopes the workmen come back to truly finish what they started. Part of me can’t begin to imagine the upset as and when they do.
It’s a pickle, and no mistake.
Until next time.
Hey, there! If you enjoyed reading any of the above, why not take a look at some of my published work? Below you’ll find links to a number of short stories I’m lucky enough to have included in anthologies. I’d love to know what you think.
New Tales Of Old
Death Ship
Pestilence: Drabbles 1
Reaperman: Drabbles 3
The Musketeers Vs Cthulhu
Eldritch Investigations
The whole thing started late last December and, as of writing, I’m not even sure if they’re finished as yet. The work has entailed resurfacing the road our little corner of the estate gives way to and which allow access to one of the main thoroughfares of Mirfield and also our main local shop. The kind that one might walk to to get some bread or whatever.
Kerb Your Enthusiasm
Such excursions, rare though they might be at this time of year, have been curtailed, however. Cones, barriers, and piles of excavated asphalt have made the going treacherous and not reminiscent of the old computer game Paperboy (although my mind is a little hazy on the exact details of that game, I’m sure it involved roadworks at some point).
There’s always been a way round it, to be fair, but my major gripe is knowing, before setting off, which way to go as, at times, the progress seemed quite random (as did the appearance of any workmen or machinery). Well there’s that and the new kerbs; monstrosities that seem twice as tall as their predecessors. Quite the hazard for those of us with wheels. Even the drop-kerbs have a very prominent lip to them. It doesn’t help.
Making progress by car, well that was far less of a hassle as, apart from one day (which would, of course, have to be the day I needed to ferry my always astounding wife, Tina to the doctors) , there’s always been access through the opposite end of the estate, albeit by a narrow and cramped little street that traditionally has cars parked either side of it and gives access to our street by a bend only one car at a time can navigate. The stand off between vehicles wanting to exit and those wanting to gain entry can be quite amusing, if you’re not directly involved in it.
So that’s the bad, now what about the good?
Shop, Drop, And Roll
Well, for me personally that has to be the new pavement surface. A smooth layer of unbroken asphalt, devoid of cracked paving stones, potholes, crevices, or hidden entries to the underworld (this last may be just a touch exaggerated). There are no molehills, no bumps, no lumps, and no weird tufts of vegetation erupting anywhere. It’s as if someone has taken a small assault course and replaced it with a roller-rink (and not the kind designed for stunts and jumps). It means returning from the aforementioned shop, laden with emergency chocolate, or the toilet roll we still have at least two rolls of (Tina gets antsy) I’m far more confident of getting home with my load intact.
Well, for me personally that has to be the new pavement surface. A smooth layer of unbroken asphalt, devoid of cracked paving stones, potholes, crevices, or hidden entries to the underworld (this last may be just a touch exaggerated). There are no molehills, no bumps, no lumps, and no weird tufts of vegetation erupting anywhere. It’s as if someone has taken a small assault course and replaced it with a roller-rink (and not the kind designed for stunts and jumps). It means returning from the aforementioned shop, laden with emergency chocolate, or the toilet roll we still have at least two rolls of (Tina gets antsy) I’m far more confident of getting home with my load intact.
It really does make a massive difference to my progress. Having a smooth surface beneath my wheels means getting there and back is less arduous and more stable. Not having to look ahead for the next potential spillage point is a real boon, too. Think of potholes when you’re driving, but think about them while you’re sitting on an ejector seat and carrying a dozen eggs.
All of which makes it a little sad that the roadworks seem to have ceased just at the corner of my road, meaning walking the dog on a morning still holds its jeopardy and can almost be navigated by the all too familiar bumps and cracks I pass over. Almost like reading some under-wheel braille. Part of me hopes the workmen come back to truly finish what they started. Part of me can’t begin to imagine the upset as and when they do.
It’s a pickle, and no mistake.
Until next time.
#
Hey, there! If you enjoyed reading any of the above, why not take a look at some of my published work? Below you’ll find links to a number of short stories I’m lucky enough to have included in anthologies. I’d love to know what you think.
New Tales Of Old
Death Ship
Pestilence: Drabbles 1
Reaperman: Drabbles 3
The Musketeers Vs Cthulhu
Eldritch Investigations
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