london1967: (little Britain)
[personal profile] london1967
If there is one thing that I cannot abide, is people shouting.

So you can imagine my reaction when a policeman last night rudely shouted "Oi!!" when I was cycling past the side of Buckingham Palace and made me step off the bike and on the pavement.

My crime? Squeezing through the parked cars (on double yellow, and double red) and the stationary traffic (the lights were red). Apparently I should have seen another policeman on the other side of the carriageway stopping the traffic (I don't know the reason but there was some kind of old, long limo (don't ask me what it was) and I assume that, given the location, some important people had to be somewhere urgently.

I told him the truth and apologised that I hadn't seen his colleague but I was really taken aback by his uncouth behaviour. Ah, what happened to good manners and to a nice "Excuse me, Sir?".

Of course I didn't tell him what I really thought, that he was just a bully in a uniform and that I wasn't doing anything illegal, because, you know, I didn't want to get a ticket or worse.

I know I let myself down because I didn't speak up.

*

When I got home Adrian was also furious.

He had been around the estate earlier in the afternoon to deliver a flyer for the next residents' association event.
When he was about to put one in Gary and Luca's letter box, one of the two Lithuanian builders who are currently re-doing the front garden, shouted "Wait!", got the flyer off Adrian, then had a look, scrunched it up into a ball and threw it in the rubbish!

Adrian has now e-mailed Gary to let him know, but if he doesn't hear anything back, I'm planning to go round one morning with a fake flyer that just says "You don't live here - mind you f***ing business!" and see what happens!

Date: 2011-01-20 04:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] london1967.livejournal.com
I am normally very calm, thank you very much.
But my rare explosions have to be feared!

Date: 2011-01-20 04:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] changeling72.livejournal.com
I know what you mean, though. I don't expect manners any more. Sad.

Date: 2011-01-20 04:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] london1967.livejournal.com
Yes, especially for a country that used to be famous for good manners (well, hooligans apart! lol)

Date: 2011-01-20 08:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] maxauburn.livejournal.com
It is sad..I thought when I was young that Britain
must be a lovely place because most everyone there seemed so polite.

People can be so damn rude nowadays.

:(

Date: 2011-01-21 06:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] london1967.livejournal.com
I know... luckily lots of people are still very nice!

Date: 2011-01-21 12:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] holy13nation.livejournal.com
You were wise not to say anything. I spent a night in the cells after reprimanding a young policeman for being rude. Also worth knowing (and I was told this by a friend who is now a bobby) is that near the end of a month they are ofteb=n looking for easy arrests as the have targets to hit.

Date: 2011-01-21 06:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] london1967.livejournal.com
It's disgusting that you were locked up for the night for that!

Such a pity that one cannot say anything without getting in trouble. *sigh*

Date: 2011-01-22 09:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] holy13nation.livejournal.com
He thought I was being a smart arse. Strange because that was what I thought of him.
My brother was locked up and charged with threatening behaviour for making a complaint at Kensington station.

Date: 2011-01-22 10:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] le-lapin.livejournal.com
what is a resident association and what is its purpose?

Date: 2011-01-23 10:54 pm (UTC)

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