Why Are People Such Numpties Sometimes?

As you can see from the title, today was not the best of days. Sometimes I say that I just shouldn’t leave the house, and today was one of those days. So, for my first contribution to #effitfridays, I bring you the following rant!

We had quite a pleasant morning, mostly snoozing, playing and bottles for Eden. I had planned to go out and meet Amy after work and use up the last of my Costa Coffee loyalty points for a cappuccino in the local town centre.

As I left the house, there was a fluffy cat sitting in the garden. I’m not a cat person, but I pointed out to Eden how pretty the putty tat was while I locked the front door. Then out of nowhere came this massive, lolloping labrador, who chased the cat off down the road. About ten feet behind said lolloping marauder was the owner. “Sorrrryyyyyy!” She was shouting, as her dog ran off down the street after the poor putty tat. I told her it’s not my cat, but perhaps she should put her dawg on a lead? She totally ignored me and carried on racing down the road. This annoyed me because not only had her dog scared the cat, but it had also run across a road to get there. Put your dog on a damn lead!

Drama over, or so I thought. I decided to take a walk through a local park with Miss Eden. I like taking her to look at the swans (although we don’t get too close because MASSIVE!). She, of course, fell asleep as soon as we arrived in the park, but I enjoyed the walk anyway. So, we’re trundling along, minding our own business and suddenly there is this infernal yapping noise, and out of the abyss runs a yappy little Jack Russell type fellow. The dog ran towards us, snapping at the buggy wheels and barking. I carried on walking, because I used to have a Jack Russell so I know about this kind of ridiculousness. Then, of course from fifteen or so feet away, came the owner. “Sorrrrry! He’s got a thing with prams!” She laughed. I said to her, feeling a bit like a broken record, that maybe she could keep him on the lead as those who don’t know dogs or have never had one might be really scared by this behaviour and feel the need to defend themselves or their children. I  mean, a small nip to me would be a trip to hospital for Eden. We’ve had a terrier in the past, so I know they’re dramatic little shitbags, but not everyone knows this or would have reacted how I did and carried on walking. Well, this woman, after yanking her little vagabond away from the wheels of the buggy, told me that I was overprotective. Me! Overprotective! When it was her little shite of a dog making the racket. Anyway… we trundled on through the park, listening to her dog run and bark at everything from runners to cyclists and everything in between.

Don’t get me wrong here, I am a total dog person. I love dogs. We have two at home and

My Little Darlings

they are my world. HOWEVER! I think if your dog shows ANY kind of aggression in public (and barking is a sign of aggression) they should be kept on a lead in public. If you can’t control them, keep them on a lead. I shouldn’t have to worry about running over her dog that is so upset by the wheels on my buggy that he tries to put himself under them. I also shouldn’t have to worry about the potential of him jumping into the buggy and hurting Eden in some way. It’s just about being considerate of your fellow human, really.

Now speaking of considerate, we then jumped on the bus for the rest of the journey. In the space on the bus that is reserved for buggies and wheelchairs was an old lady’s pull along shopping trolley. ‘That’s ok‘, I thought. ‘More than enough room for both of us in the space‘. Or so I thought. She grudgingly moved her trolley out of the way so I could get the buggy in, at which point Eden and I are smushed into a corner, while she has the monopoly on the space with her luggage. Now bearing in mind that it had taken all of about ten seconds to get the buggy in and for her to put her trolley back, I didn’t expect the rant that came from her to her sour faced friend. Apparently it is “stupid” that buggies are even allowed on the bus and she “feels sorry for wheelchairs.” She went on and on and on until I turned to her and informed her that I think her bag is stupid, and if a wheelchair user, not a wheelchair by itself, gets on I will happily get off the bus and walk because I’m a decent human being. I didn’t say it, but “unlike some” was what I was thinking. I hate that people are quick enough to rant about “the yoof of today” but rudeness from the elderly and entitled often doesn’t count. Of course I have priority until a wheelchair user gets on, which didn’t happen. Her trolley wasn’t a walking aid – it was just a trolley. I dunno – maybe she hated the world or something.

Thankfully Eden stayed asleep the whole time so I didn’t have to worry about her potentially crying or something equally as “annoying”. The looks we get when that happens is insane – God forbid a baby crying! – but that’s another story for another day!

So, that was my journey from hell. Thankfully it did end there. The coffee was fabulous and so was Eden of course. We did a spot of shopping and then headed home without further incident, so I guess I was just unlucky in encountering three numpties in a row!