Ringroad Rage
Oct. 20th, 2023 09:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smokingbootOoh, sick.
Too sick to be graphic about it.
Meanwhile, the storm's abated. I love storms; Babet whirled around the house roaring and raining and howling, and the trees bent, and the window panes were full of russet leaves... now all is calmer, it's just raining. I feel an afternoon of Powell and Pressburger coming on, and then the rugby.
I was hoping to join others repping the Charity in an event happening today, where all the local organisations have their stall, but I'm not able to go anywhere. Grim. I hope I am OK for next week, when a lot is happening.
A back story behind today's event tickled me somewhat.The whole thing is run by Councillor Ringroad's wife, and she forgot to send invitations out to several organisations, three notably, all of which are connected with the resistance to the ringroad. One includes the gentleman who told her not to shout at him. Invitations came late, presumably at the point when someone somewhere pointed out to her that this is not a good look.
She wears her heart on her sleeve, if she is angry she cannot contain it. After the initial meeting, the Councillor and I were speaking amicably, but she turned away from me; it felt like she could not physically bear to look at me. She collected herself and we had a perfectly polite conversation, even offered me a lift home, but I think when the feeling rises, it runs through her body like a kind of lava, and must find a way out. At the last more acrimonious meeting, it is claimed she barged the petitioner opposing the ring road, and she certainly interrupted that lady often. In a way I get it. When truly angry, the feeling I have is almost transcendental, moving out beyond my fingertips, above my head, below my feet, like an enveloping aura. And I understand my father saying that when you're in that wave or riding it, you can't feel pain, nothing worries you at all. I can see its use and its power, but I also recall the huge shards of glass stuck in his hands when he broke through a window to get where he wanted to be. He barely noticed them, but he was still bleeding whether he felt it or not, still needed an ambulance. It's taken me decades to gain a modicum of control over my version of this, and I'm sure this lady is far less destructive. But a bit more control is definitely in order.
After all, there is an element of rationality that must be weighed against the indignation; the Councillor keeps touting a ringroad that would destroy a beauty spot and take business away from town, enriching some local landowners and property developers whilst adding nothing to the infrastructure. People are bound to add 2 and 2, of course they suspect the worst. And of course she and her husband remonstrate.
Meanwhile, our little stall is up and running today. The event started at 10 am. At 9.55 our reps there were asked their first question: 'What do you think of the ring road?'
Too sick to be graphic about it.
Meanwhile, the storm's abated. I love storms; Babet whirled around the house roaring and raining and howling, and the trees bent, and the window panes were full of russet leaves... now all is calmer, it's just raining. I feel an afternoon of Powell and Pressburger coming on, and then the rugby.
I was hoping to join others repping the Charity in an event happening today, where all the local organisations have their stall, but I'm not able to go anywhere. Grim. I hope I am OK for next week, when a lot is happening.
A back story behind today's event tickled me somewhat.The whole thing is run by Councillor Ringroad's wife, and she forgot to send invitations out to several organisations, three notably, all of which are connected with the resistance to the ringroad. One includes the gentleman who told her not to shout at him. Invitations came late, presumably at the point when someone somewhere pointed out to her that this is not a good look.
She wears her heart on her sleeve, if she is angry she cannot contain it. After the initial meeting, the Councillor and I were speaking amicably, but she turned away from me; it felt like she could not physically bear to look at me. She collected herself and we had a perfectly polite conversation, even offered me a lift home, but I think when the feeling rises, it runs through her body like a kind of lava, and must find a way out. At the last more acrimonious meeting, it is claimed she barged the petitioner opposing the ring road, and she certainly interrupted that lady often. In a way I get it. When truly angry, the feeling I have is almost transcendental, moving out beyond my fingertips, above my head, below my feet, like an enveloping aura. And I understand my father saying that when you're in that wave or riding it, you can't feel pain, nothing worries you at all. I can see its use and its power, but I also recall the huge shards of glass stuck in his hands when he broke through a window to get where he wanted to be. He barely noticed them, but he was still bleeding whether he felt it or not, still needed an ambulance. It's taken me decades to gain a modicum of control over my version of this, and I'm sure this lady is far less destructive. But a bit more control is definitely in order.
After all, there is an element of rationality that must be weighed against the indignation; the Councillor keeps touting a ringroad that would destroy a beauty spot and take business away from town, enriching some local landowners and property developers whilst adding nothing to the infrastructure. People are bound to add 2 and 2, of course they suspect the worst. And of course she and her husband remonstrate.
Meanwhile, our little stall is up and running today. The event started at 10 am. At 9.55 our reps there were asked their first question: 'What do you think of the ring road?'
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no subject
Date: 2023-10-21 01:43 pm (UTC)WTF made your Dad go through a window?
I wish you all power fighting that road. The whole UK is turning into tarmac slum.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-22 06:58 am (UTC)But instead got persuaded into football and rugby, a different kind of fun!
Dad was angry and drunk. Mum had locked the front door, leaving him outside. He just put his hand straight through the glass, reached down and turned the key she had left in the lock. My mum straightened up when she saw the mess of blood and glass all over his wrists, told him coldly that he was a fool, called an ambulance. By the time they arrived, she was picking bits of glass out of him and wiping the rubbish off his hands. They were both extraordinary intelligent people, but not exactly well.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-23 07:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-10-21 02:51 pm (UTC)I wonder what she tells herself about the virtues of something that seems to have no virtues besides enrichening her friends?
Incandescent rage at least doesn't give you ulcers and/or depression as impotent rage does. Though as you say, both may be better than bleeding and ambulances.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-22 07:10 am (UTC)You are so right about incandescence vs impotence!
no subject
Date: 2023-10-21 03:25 pm (UTC)Hope you do feel better.
Also, you could write a book of short stories with your observational eye about local characters and events and I would read the hell out of it.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-22 07:36 am (UTC)I must admit, they're a colourful bunch around here.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-21 08:18 pm (UTC)The ringroad sounds awful to me. I am remembering the beauty of those hills. It's quite awful to think of them swarming with housing developments—which a ringroad is too obviously the logical precursor to.
I am sorry you are feeling so poorly! I hope you feel better soon. ❤️
no subject
Date: 2023-10-22 07:43 am (UTC)The Ringroad is a just plain terrible idea, but if the people wanted it, nothing to be done. But they don't. They heartily detest it. I can't get over how little this seems to matter.
I feel much better this morning thanks! ❤️