"I wonder why people do that?" - #1, 23/02/11

Inspired by a journal I almost bought yesterday.  This series of social commentary will consist of concise observations of people - behaving in a good, bad, annoying, pleasing (etc) manner - along with my attempt(s) at possible explanations and/or understanding.

Most WHSmith stores I know of are pretty cramped places.  For example, the one on Lands Lane in Leeds city centre is a large store, but the aisle arrangement and the company's desire to stock a wide range of books and magazines has created a shopping experience which belies the generous floor space.  And then there are smaller stores like the one I ventured into yesterday on Baker Street; not much larger than my parents' kitchen.  No worries - I don't plan on writing to WHSmiths to offer advice - I don't exactly have the necessary retail experience.

BUT... I notice a lot of folk (mostly men it has to be said) insist on worsening the cramped situation by spending their entire lunch hour reading magazines from cover to cover (flick through by all means and make sure the magazine contains what you're looking for, but please do not read the entire issue) in the aisle, in front of the magazine racks.  Why?  Well I have given it some thought and have come up with a few possible reasons:

1. They cannot afford to buy the magazine, we are living in pretty difficult financial times after all.  So whatever one is looking for; try the internet.  Chances are, it will be in there somewhere!

2. They have nothing better to do with the lunch hour.  Have a walk and get some fresh air considering being stuck in the office all morning.  Or arrange to meet a friend or spouse for lunch or a drink.  Obviously, still buy the magazine and read it in the comfort of one's own home with a cup of coffee or a balloon of brandy.

3. They are too tight-fisted to buy the magazine.  I doubt there is any hope of reasoning with these people... wheel 'em out!

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in Episode #1 of "I wonder why people do that?" or if you are indeed a shop-reading-magazine-aisle-blocking person, then please get in touch and share your experiences.

"Oh look, it's a fountain with horses..."

I'm currently spending at least a couple of weeks in thatLondon.  I had a job interview in Godalming (Surrey), on Wednesday - I was due down here to see Fran so simply extended the trip by a few days.  So now I'm waiting for the outcome of said interview... not too confidently to be honest, but we'll just have to see what happens.  Week days see me scouring the less-frequented areas of the capital in search of street art, quirky cafés and cheap snacks.  Mainly on foot.

This is all good as it saves wearing a hole in my Oyster card and I see things that otherwise would be missed while sitting on the Oxo.  I really like London and I could easily live here without a problem, but I am well aware it has its fair share of detractors... for usually the same, uninspired reasons: "it's too busy", "everyone is unfriendly", "it's expensive"...

Well to be truthful, it depends where you end up while you're down here.  I took a swift walk from Camden to Waterloo on Friday early evening and I thoroughly enjoyed the exercise in the bracing February air.  However, for the first time, I let negative feelings about the capital creep into my thoughts.  At the time I was pissed off, but looking back and sitting here now I do realise it has helped me to understand the 'problem(s)' that some people have with London.  So my route was thus: Park Way - all fine, Regents Park - all fine, Great Portland Street - all fine, Regent Street - all fine, Whitehall - all fine, Westminster Bridge Road - all fine.  Anyone who knows London will realise there seems to be a gap in the street running order - how did I get from Regent Street to Whitehall?  Well, um, I took the direct-ish route and walked via Oxford Circus, Soho, and the squares: Leicester and Trafalgar.

What a fucking error that was.  Especially considering the time of day.  Let's see what we had:

2. Trendy teenagers walking 3-abreast as they looked for Carnaby Street and 'checked in' on their iphones;
3. [To save causing offence, let's just stick with] European school kids loitering en-masse at subway and tube station entrances;
4. Soho was busy, but it does have a certain charm and at least the people there are shopping and/or working; and
5. Blokes with flyers trying to get me into the Aberdeen Steakhouse - "fucking leave me alone.  Do I look like I've had my tastebuds laser-removed?".

However, the main problem I encountered really deserves more than a simple bullet point in a list.  Problem #1 is predominantly attributable to Wicked, Grease The Musical, Les Miserables, Hair Spray, Dirty Dancing et al.  Each to their own; if someone wants to pass a few hours watching an Olivia Newton John wannabe or pretending witches and wizards exist while eating their own bodyweight in Minstrels, then that is absolutely fine.  BUT when I hear over and over again "oh we went to see that show in London... it was great... and all the bright lights... it's really busy though, people everywhere; I couldn't live there", I cannot help think that whoever utters those words is completely missing the point.

Please don't travel to London to see a show, stand in the middle of Shaftesbury Avenue looking at an upside-down map and/or dawdle 5-abreast while gazing up in apparent amazement at The Trocadero or The Palladium AND THEN complain about the crowds.  Because... and here's the breaking news...; you might actually be the crowd - along with me and the few million other people walking through the Borough of Tourism.  I know; crazy, right!?

In other news, I'm looking for a 56cm Colnago C50 Pista frame and forks... if you have one in the loft, then please let me know.

Thanks for reading.

Fly me to the moon. I'll sort the oxygen and gravity problems and if I don't, then I'll blame you for flying me there in the first place!

There is political unrest and a revolution under way in Egypt, yet the good old British package holiday tourist is managing to save face amidst the chaos.  Budget airline Jet2 has suspended flights to and from Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada with effect from 1st March, with the statement:

"Whilst the Red Sea resorts are not currently affected, the safety and comfort of our customers is our number one priority, and as such we do not want them to face the stressful uncertainty of whether their holiday will go ahead as planned.  Customers will automatically receive a full refund for the cost of their flights or holiday, plus a discount off a new booking."

Although I think they have taken away customer uncertainty over holidays in a rather perverse manner - by explaining "No, you're definitely not flying to Egypt in March.  Not with us anyway." - I do agree with Jet2's concern over the welfare of its customers.  I can imagine the first thing to happen should one of their customers come to grief as a result of the protests... "You flew me out here, said it was safe enough.  And now look what happened.  What're you gonna do about it?" Prudent work from Jet2, if you ask me.

So WHAT THE FUCK are retired businessman Peter O'Reilly, and his partner Jacquie Chorley harping on about?  Here we have two people who are more concerned with/interested in the fulfilment of their month in the sun rather than the very tangible elements of political revolution that are taking place literally down the road.  Mrs Chorley is quoted: "When I came out from Leeds-Bradford Airport last Friday there were lots of empty seats.  I suspect it is the empty seats they are worried about rather than my welfare."  To be honest I fail to see the logic in that argument... if Jet2 have flown people out, then they need to fly them back regardless of booking levels.

She is also quoted: "This is my third time staying at this hotel and the staff here are wonderful and can't do enough for you. I feel completely safe here."  Oh that's okay then... if you return to your room every day to find the towels have been folded into a scene from 'Watership Down' and Azizi displays a kind, warm smile as he pours your sparkling wine, then what does it matter that Hosni Mubarak might be ready to stand down after a 30-year rule?  I'm with you on that one, Mrs Chorley, some people need to get things in perspective, right?

And this story is just a very tiny example of what is wrong with today's world - too many people setting out with only themselves in mind, in their own little worlds, no idea what's happening in their own state/province/county never mind at the other side of the world.  Seemingly perpetually obsessed with having the latest iphone application, orange skin, cheap petrol, a 4x4... I could go on.

Just to end on a slightly lighter note: something which came to mind on the train last Wednesday as we waited for passengers to alight in Doncaster (poor bastards).  Two things I REALLY don't understand in this world: 1. People's fascination with gadgets; and 2. How exactly does train spotting work?  Where's the challenge?

That is all from me for now - I have a fixed gear project to research.

Thanks for reading and Godspeed!