Monday, 8th September 2008
Road Rage anyone?
When I get a free day I don’t like to sleep in, or hang around the house picking my nose. I’d much rather go to the beach and lie on my over priced Sun bed, under my equally over priced umbrella ( ella , ella , ella …heq hem sorry just a side note there!) with the sea breeze caressing my clammy, sweaty skin! Er….doesn’t paint a pretty picture now does it?
Well Thursday was way too hot and I hadn’t been to the beach in a while so I packed my beach bag, grabbed my 14 year old sister and headed off to Paradise Bay. The beach was lovely, not too many people. Only a man who trod over his own dog and left the beach in a flurry with the poor disabled pup in a towel AND a woman frantically screaming and sobbing following him. Also an annoying mother shouting to her son whilst bathing in the sea, something about where his spade was, in a blue bag or something? Didn’t really care to know all the detail, but we got that anyway!
So, yeah , it was quite a relaxing afternoon all in all, which had to end earlier than I would have liked to, alas my sibling duties required me to take my sister to her ballet lesson. The drive back from the beach is always a bit of a let down. Gone is the fresh sea breeze and suddenly you’re inhaling the hot air and fumes oozing out of the jet black tarmac. Sweat beads gather on my forehead and upper lip and I can taste the salty residue whilst it starts stinging.
I drive behind this ‘Sunday Driver’ on the coast road, whilst the terrible urge to yell “Hey Dude! It happens to be Thursday!” grows uncontrollably. At least I have my sister’s company, and might I add the innocence of a 14 year old is quite amusing! ( I thank God my parents have kept her that way!) As soon as I got to ‘Splash n Fun’ this moron just drove out of the side road with no indication whatsoever. He nearly drove into me so I swerved dangerously and hooted my horn, you know how it is, it’s just instinct I guess.
Anyway, initially the young ‘strapping (NOT) lad, let it pass by, almost as though he realised his mistake, but soon enough as I drove further on, he must have seen my number plate and thought it would be ‘funny’ to re-create a ‘Paparazzo’ moment.
Through my rear view mirror I could see him speeding towards me, drove right next to me, over took me, almost pushed me into the wall, gave me the ‘ignorant yet aggressive look’, hooted his horn and waved his fat middle finger violently out of his car!
At that point I thought I was going to explode. The road rage gremlins must have gotten a hold of me and poisoned my mind! I drove frantically trying to catch up with this twit, which obviously was a highly irresponsible thing to do, but by then my blood was boiling. I just couldn’t let this clown get away with it.
When I finally did reach him at the traffic lights in front of Luxol, I screamed foul dirty language at him, while he claimed he was ‘only Joking’ ….my little sister, bless her, closed my window …GVZZZZZZZ and I sat there trying to let off my steam. She turned to me and said “if he was joking why aren’t we laughing?....” I thought that was hilarious…..so we drove off and then just before she left the car to go to her ballet lesson she looked at me and said “ Ir I really don’t think you should swear like that…it’s not going solve anything!” and that was a lesson to be learnt from my 14 year old sister! “So much for setting an example!” I thought, so red faced I drove off home and promised myself I would try to stop the cursing and I would listen to what some of our younger generation has to say more often!
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Comments
As for Ira's blog I take my hat off...
Well done Ira
I would also like to pose the very same question to you.
Your incident does not justify "Malta has the worst driving conditions, which are a combination of terrible road conditions and reckless driving in the whole of Europe"
I drove in Italy and consider it a "Risk" driving in any village or motorway.
Another thing check out the rates of accidents in Malta to those in other countries.
@Brian Spleenovich
Whats your problem ? If you want to comment go ahead and comment but mind your own buisness of what others do.
@Mary Aquilina
A blog belongs to a writer who writes what she wants.
Tell me what was wrong with Ira writing about her experience.At least she was honest enough as also saying " so red faced I drove off home and promised myself I would try to stop the cursing and I would listen to what some of our younger generation has to say more often!"
Some of the songs were not exactly my glass of whiskey (or cup of tea, depending on the time of the day), however, I must admit that I admire (and agree with) you when you said you search for music that's unpredictable. That's, in fact, what makes music interesting after all.
I really wish that some artists (some Maltese, but many foreign ones) would try to move out of the 'safe' mainstream stuff they produce to do something more intriguing. There seem to be too many artists with a 'me too' attitude at present ready only ready to play and sing what others are playing and singing - as long as they get the airtime and sell their songs.
Talking about airtime - would it not be nice if alternative rock had more local airtime...sigh...DJ's have such an important and responsible task
Cheers
John
Though I do not 'zap' around all the time and on certain roads certainly check my speed, especially on nearing more dangerous, I do get p*ssed off with such morons that hold you up. Among the worst ones are those that suddenly wake up from their coma and step step down on their accelerator as soon as you're overtaking them. What's this, I ask myself, some sort of duel?
One lesson I have learnt (to be able to keep the cool) is NOT to honk my horn at such drivers, but instead hold back a few meters when approaching a chance to overtake, give the car some inertia (that's acceleration) and overtake a' la' Lewis Hamilton.
BTW...did you take his number plate....?
Cheers & all the best with your music!
I am a housebound lady who got very ill soon after retirement, a year ago. I am baffled about your argument. I thought that the article was about another career objective that you have reached in your profession. The account does not give you any credit. At least you admitted your mistake; but was it really such a splendid event to write about? I do not mean to hurt your feelings but for many like me look forward to a newspaper full of informative articles and leave this to a gossip corner. Mary Aquilina
and on another note Ira la la la la la,
It's inevitable. When faced with loutish behaviour and complete disregard of the basic traffic rules on a daily basis, even the mildest and sweetest temperament will eventually snap.
And the new generation of drivers is no better, harsher driving test notwithstanding. It's tragic and infuriating to see learner drivers already considering using indicators when changing lane/direction as an 'optional practice' during lessons.
Right then, I pray to God to provide me with a Bigfoot, one of those monster trucks used in the Us for competition.