Seeker

Early this morning I enjoyed reading about Weird American Laws in a post by The Old Geezer. Did you know it's against the law to sleep in your 'fridge in Pennsylvania ? Or that birds have the right of way on all highways in Utah ? Of course every country has its collection of strange laws that it's government hasn't got round to repealing or that are forgotten but remain on the statute books. This is certainly true in England, where I live. Below are some examples of strange English laws still on the statute books. If you know that any of these are no longer true, please correct me. It is illegal to fly a kite within the London Metropolitan Police District. (Town Police Clauses Act 1847). This is because the Victorians feared spread of disease. Taxi drivers are supposed to ask if you are suffering from 'the plague'. If you are he/she can charge you the cost of disinfecting the cab. I think it is illegal to keep a pigsty in front of your London hom...

I've just got back from "a quick trip to a supermarket". But it's never quick is it? 3 things hold me up: meeting people I know dithering over so much choice all the goods have moved since my last visit the shortest queue at the checkout turns out to be slowest Wikihow has a rather boring article 'How to Practice Supermarket Checkout Etiquette' .  It has 8 'Steps' . I won't bore you with the details, but here's the headings: Obey the express lane limit. Avoid standing in the walkway. Double check on your groceries. Have membership cards and coupons ready. Bag your own groceries. Relax and have patience. Respond to the cashier in a positive manner. Be sure to allow ample room between your cart and the person in front of you. Step 6 ' Relax and have patience' is the hardest for some people. I'm usually patient in a queue - partly personality, but also due to my tried and tested strategies for passing the time....

When the wood-pigeons round our way are not courting, mating, breeding, or sleeping, they are feeding. Eating at one end has consequences at the other. Most of the year these consequences are more or less off-white. That I can tolerate, except when it lands on me. But now - IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! PURPLE BERRIES ARE RIPE OR RIPENING! That's why my hands are stained purple from harvesting and processing blackberries etc. The pigeons don't seem to go much for the blackberries, but they love the fruit of the elder (Sambucus Nigri). Oh the joy of large deposits of purple bird faeces on the places where we walk or on the car. Even now I can see wood pigeons gorging themselves on the ripening berries of the elder tree just over the garden wall. I study their subsequent flight patterns carefully. Purple poo bombing raids on our car are all part of the fun en route to their post-prandial perch. Washing off the sh*t is my task. I like elderberries. ...