Forward planning

Monday, 3rd November, 2008

The first full week of November is upon us, and I’m off work for a week as I desperately try to fit in the 19 days holiday I have left before the end of the year.

I haven’t really got any plans for this week other than for Thursday which will see me at Glasgow Green to watch the annual fireworks display. And then I’ll be in a few pubs around the Merchant City area; for a heat obviously, because it’ll be cold down there on Glasgow Green. Ahem.

Today however, I stand accused of spectacular forward planning and of being ‘worse than a girl’. I was bored this morning (my body wakes at an absurdly early hour even when I don’t have to get up for work), and as it was dry and sunny (if a little cold), I decided to head into Glasgow to wander around the shops for a bit. I left Glasgow having bought what I will wear for my work’s Christmas night out. Which is on 19th December.

I’m actually glad that this particular festive task is out of the way, that really only leaves me the necessary present buying, and that’ll be done online hopefully within the next few weeks. I’ll hopefully be stress-free over the festive period and will just be able to enjoy the atmosphere without all of the hassle that goes with it. I think Edinburgh will get a visit this year (haven’t been for a couple of years now) as the mulled wine in that wee German market thing at the top of Princes Street Gardens is fantastic!

1

Nov

The back of the bus…

Saturday, 1st November, 2008

I have a wee bit of a theory knocking about my head at the moment.

I’m not old (I’m fucking not, right) — but I can still remember a time when children (youth) respected (and dare I say, feared) their elders.

I also trained (albeit briefly) as a Primary School teacher, so I know what you are (and more importantly what you’re not) allowed to do or say to children to keep them in line. (Is this perhaps the post with the most parenthesis in the world ever? </digression>)

So, anyway, back to my theory. We hear all the time about how there is no longer any respect shown to the elder generation; there’s little respect for authority from the youth of today, be it towards parents, teachers, or even the law.

Yet, get onto any bus and if there is a youth element travelling on it, chances are they are all sitting right at the back of the bus. As far away from the driver (and by extension the authoritarian presence) of the bus. Having travelled frequently by bus, I know that the basis of this distance between driver and youth is so that they are as free as they can be to be an annoyance to other passengers.

My theory is that somewhere in the youth of today there is still an acknowledgement of authority, otherwise why don’t you find the kids sitting all over the bus causing their annoyances? Whether they realise it or not, they are actually showing some respect to the driver of the bus by making sure they are as far away from him as possible to allow for misbehaviour.

All we need to do is find a way to bring that respect back up to the surface and make them apply it to all aspects of their lives.

Bring back National Service I say.