Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2006-12-21 01:42:25 - Graham Ellis
I'm posting this on Wednesday but dating it for Thursday as I don't expect I'll have much of a chance to be on line on the actual day. The last working two days before Christmas see me in Stirling, Scotland and the drive looks like it will be foggy and icy.
For a trip to Scotland, I'm in the habit of breaking my journey on the way up at a pre-booked roadside hotel near to destination, but then leaving the booking open on my way back as I don't know how far I'll be safe to drive at the end of a course. But I've made an exception this week - I'll still be north of the Border on Friday night and I'm already booked. After all, this is the time of year when, historically, there was no room at the Inn ... it brings it to me that Christmas is just a few days away. And I expect that all the world and his Aunt will be travelling at the weekend!
Last Sunday evening, I popped by Melksham Station to see whether or not anyone is using the new 19:51 to Swindon - I can't myself see the market for the Sunday service as provided, but want to be fair to the operator is he HAS got this right. Three people got off; one looked lost and was hanging around the station clearly not knowing where he was going. He asked me where he could get a taxi ... didn't know the town, and I'm thinking first time in Melksham. I directed him but he sounded unsure. "Where are you headed" I asked. "Stoke-on-Trent". Wow - not what expected -it's 150 miles. "My money would only get me this far and I'm going to get a taxi and my friends will pay when I get there". And "can you give me a lift to the town". And ... I'm ashamed of myself. I declined. He looked fit but I wasn't sure if he was really with it. Wasn't sure if I ... well - might have been taking a risk. Odd things worried me and so I 'passed by on the other side'.
I don't profess to any religion - in fact I'm decidedly against. However, there are some good teachings and some codes of behaviour to learn from, even though others are abhorrent. Religious holiday periods such as that one coming up do give us a time to think, to contemplate, to set ourselves on a forward path - we'll be doing that over the next two weeks. And I hope that we'll run forward well in 2007 ... I hope I don't make too many errors of judgement such as the cowardly one I feel I made at the station the other day, and I hope that young man reached Stoke-on-Trent successfully and without too many more slaps in his face.