Local Newspaper

Living in a small town, where everybody seems to know everybody else can make life difficult for the local newspaper.  The journalists don't seem to live in the town and their office has been moved to a larger town, a few miles away.  It's not the kind of town where much happens.  Often the crime page lists the flower pots stolen from garden sheds.

Our Saturday morning walk into town was livened up with a story that could make the front page of our local paper.  It was only a minor traffic accident and no one was seriously hurt, the driver was treated for shock by a paramedic and a shop front was completely wrecked, with glass all over the pavement.  But there was so much more to the story.  I was waiting outside the bank for the Long Suffering Husband to update his signature (which he hasn't done since he was 16 and they have just started bouncing cheques) with the dog (who makes old ladies cry and small children call him a cat), watching people go past and listening to their comments.

Not a Cat

Most people were super critical,  "Why aren't the Police there?"  "I can't believe they haven't put cones around the glass."

Some were funny, "I hope the shop doesn't have to close - where will the old ladies get their big knickers if it does."

There was lots of confusion, "How did that happen?"

No one was angry with the driver, "Poor girl, is she alright? She looks very shocked."

By the time the car had been moved (by a very calm man with a broom) the small crowd had dispersed apart from one local man.  He is known in the town for wandering into the road and stopping the traffic.  Recently a carer must have suggested he have a high-vis jacket because when he arrived he stopped, surveyed the situation, put his shopping bag down, took out his jacket, put it on and directed people away from the glass.  Who needs cones?

One of my favourite parts of the local newspaper has always been the Obituary page.  It may sound morbid but it's a fascinating read.  I have noticed a worrying trend. The age that people die has gone from about 60 to 85 in the last 20 years.  For most people it would be a positive thing but if life expectancy rises by that much every 20 years then I can expect to live to about 135.  That means that I will have to live as long as I've lived another two times over and I'm really quite tired already.