They say writing is 10 percent inspiration, 90 percent perspiration – unless you’re a writer who lives in the middle of the Sahara, in which case….how do you prevent your sweaty fingers from sliding off the keyboard?
Before I begin scribbling my weekly witterings, I usually have no idea what to write, so very often perspiration wins over inspiration.
But there are times when an experience will cause me to rush to my laptop to get the words down, fast.
Such an incident happened at a motorway services on the M5.
I had no business being on the M5 because I was driving from Bridgend to Carmarthen, but that’s another story…
After I’d got my coffee from the machine, told the till lady “I’ve only got a £20 note, sorry” and she’d replied “That’s alright, love. You can owe me the extra 35 pence”, I went outside with my cup.
No….it couldn’t have been a cup because I heard the till lady remark “That mug’s going outside!”
It was a bright, crisp winter’s day and as I sat on a bench watching the steam rising from my cappuccino – everyone needs a hobby – I was joined by a lively group of disabled people and their carers. They were in great humour, clearly enjoying being out on the first dry day we’d had for ages. Their loud laughter wasn’t an issue for me.
Well it’s been such a long time since I’ve heard any.
But I was astonished by the reaction of other adults sat around us, who stared inappropriately and disapprovingly at the disabled people, while ignoring the bad behaviour of their own children.
I have no idea why these intolerant onlookers were so annoyed by a group of wheelchair users, but obviously they didn’t have the common sense to think for just one moment that they and their annoying offspring might one day be involved in an accident or develop a serious illness that could render them ‘disabled’.
I can only put their appalling attitude down to ignorance, which in 2016 is inexcusable – but extremely common.
The chilling words of The Spirit of Christmas Present have stayed with me since I first read “A Christmas Carol”…
“This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both.
But most of all, beware this boy”.
I believe ‘This boy’ was lurking amongst those insensitive onlookers that day – and they revelled in his presence.
Shame on them.