Gridlock

"I'm not going to give up on you" I shouted" I'm going to keep trying until you change your mind and have a go". He said nothing.
"You're not helping yourself" I implored, "If you only gave yourself a chance to get used to it - it would be fine." A tear appeared stubbornly on his cheek.
"Tell me why" I begged, "Please don't just sit there - don't look away from me- please tell me why you won't try it".
"I don't like it", he said.

Apparently...

I don't put my foot down very often...but sometimes I dig my heels in.

Stepping Out
Another day nearly over and I haven't been anywhere locally apart from to and from the car again. I did have to walk most of the way down the street to where the car was parked. Yesterday was sunday and in a reminder to us all that the spirit of adventure is not dead - I went to the newsagents. (I did go with my dressing gown tucked into my pajama trousers and hidden under my coat. This is more laziness than fashion choice or exhibitionism).
I usually make the effort to chat to the woman in the paper shop. It makes me feel like a friendly member of the local community. I didn't bother this time though - basically because I don't share her only interest - dogs!

The Road Less Travelled
I am a car driver - I haven't always been - but I certainly am one now.
As such one some days the only journey I make on foot in my own locality is to and from my car. Today was one of those days.
As I walked to the car with my son about 1pm I noticed that the man accross the road was on a ladder doing something to his gutter. The sun was out. I said " As soon as the some gets out people start doing work on their houses. I thought about doing something on mine". He said something I didn't quite catch.

It Doesn't Bite
I went to visit someone today as part of my job. There was a dog - one of those small staffordshire terriers. It started jumping at me immediately. I was informed that it (she) didn't like men. Fair enough I thought - I don't like small aggresive dogs. She'll be alright they kept saying - she'll calm down. I tried stroking and patting her - as you do when you act as if your comforatable with an animal. She was taken from the room and I continued the interview.

A few minutes later the dog came back in with a vengeance. Having lulled me into believing that she was OK really and having let me stroke her - she proceeded to jump at me, slobber and finally bit me on the newly purchased ski-style jacket.(£40 reduced from £75 TK Maxx).

I had to clearly demonstrate my alarm before the owners removed the offending creature.
There should be seperatist colonies in West Wales for animals with such issues.

Crossed Paths

I went swimming today in the new pool in Horfield. I usually go to Easton. My work colleague said she wouldn't go there because its slimy under foot. I hadn't noticed. She suspected that people at Easton Pool didn't shower before they went in. "We can't go on together", I said "with suspicious minds".

Back to Horfield Pool. They had one of those barriers - i don't know what they're called - for sectioning off part of the pool for childrens swimming lessons. This annoyed me - but the pool wasn't too busy so I started swimming lengths as usual - but it was awkward to turn at the barrier thing - and in the shallow end I had to dodge lots of children. I noticed that someone was swimmings widths near the barrier. This irritated me at first but then i realised it was a good idea as the width was about the same length as a lenght and it was quieter. So I did this - but one woman kept swimming lengths and every 2 or three lenghth we would almost collide. At one point she stopped and said sorry. I sort of gestured "after you".