This week, I had an experience at a bus stop that was so significant that it led me to pose a deeply philosophical question;Who would win in a fight? Judge Dredd, or Southwater Parish Council?
As for the answer, the story should help you work it out.
I walked from my home in the north of the village in the daytime over to the bus stop on Worthing Road (you know the one - its got a brick-built shelter? Possibly the warmest and shelteriest shelter i've ever known, anyway) to wait for the 98 bus to Horsham. As the 98 came into view, a small blue car pulled to a halt at the far end of the stop, where the bus would normally pull in.
This struck me as a little odd. I was the only one at the stop, so they coudn't have been picking anyone up, and as there was only one person in the car they weren't dropping anyone off either. Someone lost?
A woman got out, walks over towards me, the bus drawing closer, and paced towards where i was outside the shelter. Someone lost.
Not out of hostility but only to warn her of obstruction and probably of mild danger (a bus being a bit on the long side and somewhat more difficult to maneuver than a 1998 Corsa), I exclaimed;
"Excuse me, there's a bus coming love!"
Her response, was made as if I was a man with recently restored sight, observing with utter suprise that the sun rose and set every day.
"Yes?"
In shock and feeling a little like I were Canute returning with soggy ankles, I could only quietly muster;
"I jus' thought you ought to know".
Actually, she was pacing for the parish notice board that affixed to the end of the shelter.
At this point the bus steered round her car and pulled in further up the luxuriously lengthy bus stop and I hopped on.
So, the parish council must be made of stern stuff, and i for one am glad. To have such strongly-minded and determined indivduals listening to the citizens of Southwater and ensuring that local facilities are respected we are lucky. Truly egalitarian custodians of our fine village. In fact, I'm so confident in their dedication to matters concering the village, they're bound to read this.