March 17, 2006

• This is England. Please Join the Queue.

  I decided that it's too cold, too prone to snow and too grey generally for cycling this morning.  I got the bus.  I arrived at the bus stop, I saw that there was one guy standing there, and I went and stood behind him.  Because that's what you do.  This is England.  Queuing is not merely a courtesy, and a habit, it is also an art form, generally perpetuated in the Post Office in Camden with people who smell like they haven't washed this year.  A smelly art form, but still an art form.  With rules.  I was heartily annoyed when the next person who arrived stood between the guy I was behind, and the bus stop itself (and not under the shelter behind me).  Because, obviously, that is completely and utterly the wrong way to go about it.  I do not care that she was not the first person to get on the bus.  I do care that she wasn't queuing properly.  This is entirely wrong, and raises the hackles of an Englishwoman in a manner that cannot adequately be described.  It does, however, result in much huff and puff and humph.  The woman then followed me down the bus, right to the end, and decided to sit next to me.  There were plenty of other empty seats en route to where I was; which happened to be the last double seat left.  I got out the knitting.  She moved when the couple in front got off the bus.  Ha.  Vindicated.  I wasn't so bothered by the next person who sat down next to me: there were more people on the bus, so the rules were different.

  
  

  In other news, I'm starting a Brownie Unit in the local Synagogue on 7th May.  Roll on the paperwork.  I would be thoroughly overexcited, but I'm actually suffering from a terrific sense of anticlimax this morning, possibly induced by lack of sleep, an upset stomach, the one hour long phone call spent debating dates, times, subs and names with the parent who's helped enable it (believe me, I will decide what this unit is registered as, and what the bank account name will be, and, if he has problems with the official name, which he doesn't think is "zippy" enough, he can damn well join the Guides himself and pay a subscription first) and the realisation that I need to get the hang of doing accounts once and for all.  Double Entry Book Keeping here I come.  I'm sure my parents can help.  One is a Bachelor of Commerce and a Chartered Accountant (retired).  The other worked in a Bank.  One of my Grandfathers was a Bank Manager.  There are books which explain this, and a working men's college nearby which must run courses.  I have ordered "Judaism for Dummies" from Amazon.  Background reading before I make a total prat of myself.  Apparently it's quite a conservative synagogue, and it may be diplomatic to stop wearing my cross (hmmm.  I shall feel nude).  If anyone knows of a neat symbol of religious unity, could you let me know? 

  
  

  xxx

  • 6:10 am
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