Of Manholes and Covers

In my walks around the city, it has recently come to my attention that quite a number of manhole covers are being removed. There's a time I actually witnessed some guys do the removing at noon or thereabouts in an estate, but we all assumed it was the Council doing its best to unblock the clogged drains. Its only after about a month when the clogging hadn't been sorted out and the cover hadn't come back that we smelt a rat ...

Today, on my way to work, I was shocked to find a gaping hole on what I had all along assumed to be a part of the road. Seems that these guys either walk around with the City's sewer plans or have a nose for smelling these things out ...

Anyhoo, it reminded me of the tale of 2 pals of mine who'd been walking on a rainy evening through the CBD. They'd been in deep conversation when one of then suddenly realized that she was talking to herself. She looks sideways to try and see where the other has gone but doesn't see her. It isn't until she looks down that she finds that the other had stepped into a water covered manhole (thinking it was just a puddle) and was at great pains trying to extricate herself from it. It's all friend No. 1 could do to stop laughing and assist. The mental image always gives me a chukle.

Have a manhole free day won't you!

Of Couples and Gloomy Mornings

So today morning as I went about my usual walk I noticed a female driven Vitz zoom past me and stop at an intersection. The passenger side door was thrown open and before it begun to swing back from the force a good looking young fellow in a smart suit stormed out and slammed the door behind him. The lady promptly zoomed off. Those of us who happened to have witnessed it looked on after him as he stomped off to get into a mat.

This made me think of the couples I see driving together in the morning. If you ever look at them, you will notice that 99.999999% of them don't talk. Not only do they not talk but they look as though they are a hair's breadth away from re-enacting the above scene. What's up with our couples. What do they do to each other in the morning after a night of snuggling close amid other activities? Perhaps I'll find out when in that situation?

Of Tears and Toddlers

So juzi I was in a mat minding my own business on my way home. Nice Sunday afte and I'm thinking all is well with the world. Then a lady gets in with a kid who looks about 4 and he's crying. At first it's cute as I consider the childish petulence endearing. After a quick couple of minutes it gets old. And I quickly get to thinking the way mother's of nowadays let their kids get away with bloody murder. This kid goes on and on in tears and the mother seemingly oblivious stares off in the opposite direction. As we get along, the kid decides to tell the mother that the reason for his tears is that he wants water. She nicely and patiently explains to him that she doesn't have any but that they will get some when they get to their destination. The young one throws his little fists in the air and wales in his tantrum for the rest of my journey.

With my face clouded over I ask myself why she doesn't just do something about it. And then a little memory comes to mind. I must have been around 6 years old and was with my dad and brother as we walked through town with a million places to go when I suddenly declared that I was dying of thirst. I said I could hardly take another step until I got some water. My poor dad left me in the charge of my brother as he ran into a super market to get me some water. He got back with a whole litre and we all stood around waiting for me to drink to my fill. I promptly took 2 dainty sips and said I'd had enough! If my dad were a jungu he'd have been as red as red shaggs soil!

As I alighted and the kid continued crying, I threw a weak commiseratory smile to the poor mother and went on my way. Hoorah to all the parents of the world!