February 6th, 2009 Snow, Wellies, Clifford!
Some weeks just pass by, and despite by efforts to liven then up each week in my Blog, I’m aware that I’ve failed. I’m lucky if something just out of the ordinary occurs…
How is it then, that this week has been so bloody interesting?
I’ve never been one to favour Chaos Theory, but I do wonder every now and then. I mean, a bit of Snow can really do a lot!
I won’t bore you with a description of the Snow; in fact, I’m not even going to bore myself with a description of the snow. I ‘m beyond fed-up of it, but I’ll save that rant for later.
Firstly, I must admit I was wrong. Throughout Saturday and Sunday I completely dismissed all claims that we were going to get any recoginisable snow-fall… “It never snows properly, and the weather people are always predicting events that never happen!” Now, five days on, I realise I was at least partially wrong. Whilst admittedly the Weather forecasters did manage to correctly predict we would have snow, and a lot of it; they have pretty much cocked up with regards to the rest of the week.
Needless to say, Monday and Tuesday (yes, a whole two days) were deemed “Snow Days”. I’ll admit, I’m no fan of Snow, I don’t like the Ice, and I don’t like the coldness, and the wetness. More importantly, I hate the disruption it causes; and I lament at the fact that everything has to just suddenly stop in England at the slightest hint of a bit of snow. However, I did have fun; and not only that, I had fun without killing myself in the process! Quite an achievement for someone who has the worst possible co-ordination (and ability to walk without falling over) than a vast majority of the world!
Wednesday, it was back to School. I was quite happy, I mean I was actually quite annoyed that I had missed Monday and Tuesday, as my timetable at School this week is quite good. Ahh, anyway, I will survive, I ‘m sure! School wasn’t anything particularly interesting; from the looks of things it felt like no one wanted to be in. Both the staff and the students were pretty much lacking in concentration and motivation - not that I blame them.
Wednesday afternoon however was more interesting. I took myself down to Sutton to go and collect something, which turned out to be a wasted journey. I pottered about for a bit, looking in the Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U, and some others in the hope of finding my dream mobile for a reasonable price - nay to that idea, I tell you. I then indulged (again), in one of the chocolate thingys from Costa. I got the bus back (well actually, the Bus took me on a different route, and I was never informed of this by the driver, which wasn’t particularly good), and then got off at my stop.
Now, imagine this if you will. Me, in my wellies, my jeans tucked into them, holding my Costa cup, walking in the middle of the road, slipping and sliding everywhere, and mumbling to myself a concoction of swear words at the snow, and ice. In other words, not an attrative look… If anything far from it. I was waddling along, in a world of my own, and suddenly I heard a “Hi”.
I turned, and a man on the pavement (that was far too icy for me to navigate on), was standing. I called out “Hi”. He then proceeed to tell me his name, “I’m Clifford”. So I replied “Hi Clifford”. He asked me my name “I’m Samantha”.
I had to walk out of the road, as I was about to be run over, and he walked in my direction. He said “What do you do?” “I’m a Student.” “What are you studying?” “My A Levels!” “Oh cool, that’s good.” He smiled, and kept talking. He then asked me “Where do you live?” I said “Around the corner” which was vaguely true - I wasn’t about to tell a stranger whom I had barely just met, and was at least twenty-eight or so years in age, where I live.
Clifford then asked me “Are you scared of me?” I, actually wasn’t, and I told him so “No, I’m just bloody cold, and I have a load of work to do for School!”. I should also mention, when I mentioned that I was a student, there appeared to be no defect in his wishes to find out more about me. He then asked me “Why do you have to do work, you should give yourself a break… Come out with me?” “Thanks Clifford, but actually, I’ve just had two days off of School due to the Snow, and I really can’t, thanks for the offer though.” At this point, I was starting to feel a little erked out… I mean, he was quite a bit older than me, and although very polite (I cannot fault him on that), just wasn’t my time, and nor was I going to allow him to take me anywhere, or follow me anywhere. I then told him I had to go “I’m cold, and I really do have to go now… It was nice speaking to you”, “Do you want me to walk you home?”, “No thanks, I can manage”, “Well, I hope to see you soon Samantha”, “Yes, see you soon Clifford… Bye!”.
Now this story is amazing for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it was just quite entertaining. It’s one of those things you never expect to happen, and coupled with my current appearance, and everything else, it was amazing. I think it goes to prove that if I can get chatted up like that, then there really is hope for anyone!
Secondly, this isn’t the first or only time this has happened this week. On Monday I had a stalker in Sutton whilst also in my wellies. On Wednesday as I was walking home from School (also in my wellies), I got honked by a passer-by in a car. And just this very morning (also in my wellies), one of the Dust-Bin Men in their truck thing “smiled” at me, in that way that men do.
Do you notice any similarities here?
It’s the wellies! I’m pretty damn sure of it. I’m now contemplating on wearing them more often, and maybe then my quest for love will be a hell of a lot easier!
—
Whilst remaining on the subject of Snow, I must admit by Tuesday its wonderousness had already worn off, and by today I am fully in a complete desire to go and do something to move along the process of Global Warming that much faster! Seriously, it’s annoying. I’m fed up of being scared of near death everytime I try to leave the house, I’m fed up of the News just being full of useless stories about the bloody snow, and I’m fed up of being cold!
More importantly, I’m fed up of having my journeys to anywhere being disrupted! The buses on Wednesday for instance, and on Thursday my Mum trying to drive in the snow - ha! I could hop faster than she drove, and I don’t do hopping! And then my journey to and from School! Ahh, I’m fed up of having to change my routes as to avoid hazarderous roads, only to find that the school are more than happy for us to walk on ice, as long as it isn’t on School grounds - you know, they wouldn’t want to be sued or anything?
But saying that, as some people may know from my explanations throughout the day, I kind of went a little crazy this morning. I phoned up the School whilst on the playground and demanded that the playground gates were to be opened. My response to be told “no, you must walk round” was not the best I’ve ever come out with. As a result, I’ve spent the whole day feeling immensely guilty, and sorry. I apologised to the office lady once I got into School, but I still feel bad.
However, Mr. B recommended to me that I complain to Sutton Council for being utterly useless (which admittedly, they are… I mean don’t even get me started on them… Bloody Liberal Democrats!) So I think I might. I mean, they’ve deployed their road sweeping people on the Highstreet (not forgetting we’re in a Recession here, and people aren’t exactly loaded with cash, and even if they were, despite Sutton Highstreet being relatively alright on Wednesday, it was still completely dead), they’ve neglected the Schools. Now, I suppose from someone who aspires to become Minister for Education in the future, this would annoy me; but is this not clearly common sense? Education over the possibility of someone buying something? I know which one I go with, but apparently, the idiots on excessive pay at the Civic Centre in Sutton have decided otherwise.
The consequence of this master-plan of forgetting about literally thousands of School-Children of all ages, is the high possibility of a hell of a lot of injuries (I mean I’m amazed I’m not actually dead!), and quite a few people who are just avoiding School altogether until the ice passes.
Is this what our Borough Council wants? Is this what Boris Johnson wants? We are afterall, a London Borough.
So, yes, Sutton Council can expect a nice lengthy complaint arriving to them soon. I’m not risking breaking bones, or hurting myself so that the Highstreet can be kept nice and clean, and nor am I going to be lenient because of “the extent of the heavy snowfall” - this was all expected and rightly forecasted, therefore there is absolutely no excuse. Council Tax is not paid so that nothing can be done when action needs to be taken, and it’s not as if they don’t have £5.5 million sitting in a bank earning interest, now is it?
Idiots.
And a final comment too, on today’s History lesson. I would like to point out to everyone that despite the number of stares and grins that I was met with when Ms. R mentioned the “crazy members of the Charles 1st Appreciation Society acting out the execution of Charles” - I am not a member. I would also like to point out, that there really isn’t any need to inform as many people as possible (Owen), of a certain video on Youtube!
I may be a geek, but please after the whole SamLearning thing of last year, I think there is no need to embarrass me any further… Eh?
I will end here, as I am now on my way out to go and celebrate the Birthday of Cass!
Enjoy,
Samantha.
(http://www.thesamantha.co.nr)
February 6th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Hi, Samantha.
I found your profile on Last.fm during Photoshop group exploring, and then I found your blog, and, in the END, I found your expression for SNOWing Days. It’s really great. Good work, are you going to be a journalist? Because I really know, what’s snowing means, all I can say in this situation “I’m so sorry, Samantha”.