Petrol

Seriously what is the matter with you people! Sometimes I really do despair of people and this is one of those times. We are verging on mob mentality panic buying because there MAYBE a strike by tanker drivers that are in a dispute at the moment. Yes in London there are queues for fuel and it has been confirmed that sales are increasing drastically. No we aren't talking about remote locations, we are talking about London. This is also partly down to idiotic suggestions and denials by a weak government that isn't prepared to take control of the situation.

The union hasn't actually given notice of a strike date or dates yet and still we have stupid people thinking it is the end of the world and panic buying. This isn't a third world country, last time I checked we weren't at war, there hasn't been a major disaster, the price of fuel isn't about to triple and yet there are people panic buying. What these stupid people don't seem to be able to comprehend is that THEY are creating the problem.  

I have seen this happen numerous times with food.  I have seen people literally strip shelves of food in supermarkets because of an apparent crisis. It isn't big or clever, in fact in some of the cases I have seen it is selfish. An example; a man fills his trolley with bread and other stuff which means the little old lady who just wanted a loaf of bread couldn't have one. I had to restrain my disgust on that occasion.

You may not realise this but the unions are fully aware that they have to keep us the general public on side in any strike. The last thing they need is a public backlash when a strike happens so I find it very highly unlikely that we are going to see drivers on strike for weeks at a time.  Likewise going on strike means loosing wages, you don't get paid when on strike!  So realistically can you see tanker drivers going on strike for weeks?  No!  So why the stupidity?  There really isn't any excuse for it!

"I need my car to take the kids to school, for work, because I am to lazy to walk" So what? The strike dates haven't been declared yet! Tends to make panic buying a completely pointless exercise if the strikes don't happen for another month.  Oh and there are laws about how much petrol can be stored at home. and the amount is significantly less than a tank of petrol in most cars. I distinctly remember being prosecuted before over fuel hoarding in the past.

So in conclusion we can all agree that people are being stupid and the government is being weak. Situation normal then!

Eek!

Situation, I had what can only be described as a good time in London on 8th March and now I hate myself even more. This in itself is an achievement in both cases but the later is where I have a major problem. I hate myself but I haven't got a clue what to do about it.

Most people will tell you that you learn to live with the pain but when it comes around to the anniversaries  it isn't about coping, it is about surviving and preferably intact. My brain for some unknown reason also decided it was time to repair the huge amount of damage also caused by numerous events.  This year I knew that if I stopped at home I was going to be bang in trouble. I am not suicidal but quite simply had I stopped at home I would have made a mess that would have taken a large amount of time to clear up. I would have fucked myself over in a way that only I could have done.

Now on top of that it had come to the point that I needed to properly reward myself for surviving, the things I have done, my achievements and for being me. So I toddled off to London for a few days. I ate good and at times stunning food, I shopped and treated myself, I went to the opera. March 7th I knew that I had made the right decision and on March 8th after going to Westminster Cathedral I didn't allow myself to stop.  I threw everything I had at myself in only the best possible way, the only way that would have improved it was for someone to share it with me.

Getting home on Friday I realised that I had done what I needed to do and I had a good time.  My next thought was fuck!  Now what do I do with myself. I am not allowed a good time!  My self hatred has gone to a whole new level, I had no one to turn to. 

Yes I have calmed things down but I still haven't resolved the problem I have.  Due to the numerous events over the last several years I am fully able to deal with things when they go wrong, emergencies, disasters and the very worst in people.  I still haven't mastered how to deal with things when they go well. I get thrown when people pay me compliments so when things go really well I go into meltdown which appears to be happening now.

Shut up!

Thursday night I had the pleasure of going to Aida at the Royal Albert Hall for the second time, well technically the third time. It is a long story but needless to say the company I had saved the evening from being completely ruined. Now in my case every so often I have to take some time out and go get my mind some of the best culture that is on offer. In other words I have to do something to prevent a full on meltdown. This means that I am going to spend money to get what I need.

As I fully expected the performance of Aida was top notch and everything I expected from it. What wasn't expected was the sheer arrogance and rudeness displayed by people who were watching the performance.

The rules are quite simple I am fairly certain that I could teach them to a 4 year old. If the performance starts at 7:30pm then the idea is that you are in your seat and ready to watch the performance by 7:30pm. If you are late and I struggle to find many legitimate reasons then atleast have the grace and good manners not to allow doors to slam behind you. 

Even more so I did not expect to see the sheer arrogance displayed by certain people. At one point their was an announcement that if people did not return to their seats they would be prevented from seeing the next part of the performance.  Seriously? Who do these people think they are? There were people in the building of a far higher social standing that these people who managed to be sat waiting for these people to sit down and the performance to start. You know who you are and you should be ashamed of yourselves.

Next when the lights go down for the performance to start, SHUT THE FUCK UP! It isn't rocket science. I haven't paid £80 to listen to you talking, I paid to watch an opera. Feigning offence when I give you a dirty look or tell you to shut up just makes you look even worse. The sheer amount of people who either can't work this out amazes me. Well it is either that or sheer arrogance in believing they are more important than anyone else and that the performance can wait for them. It is the single quickest way to wind me up and unbelievably rude.

Okay that is my rant about the stupid people over and done with. Now onto the arts and culture in general.  Life wouldn't be the same without the Arts, we all need it in our life! Apart from anything life would be very boring without it and in my case it keeps my sanity. In general the arts are open to all but what I need to talk about is the very best in the arts. 

My taste only really developed after I left school, I would probably say post 2001. Had I been able to access the arts earlier I would have probably reached this stage maybe 19 years ago? I personally believe I have started tasting the very best but I haven't been able to really immerse myself yet. The reason? Cost plus the minor fact that certain experiences should be shared.  I am currently the 30 something going to shows on my own I would rather not become the 40 something doing the same, especially if we are talking about the very best. Going back to my original point cost. Last night cost me in the region of £250 when I factor in the cost of travel, hotel, a meal and the ticket. Naturally had I been fortunate enough to have been going with someone we could add their ticket on top etc.

The best seats seemed to cost £75 each and from what I could see the cheapest tickets with a restricted view were around £22 plus booking fees of course. The mid price tickets being around £50. My point being that it is expensive going to the opera. With the cost involved it does tend to restrict who can go. How is a future generation supposed to support the arts if they can't access such works when growing up? 

The arts generate huge amounts money which can only be a good thing for the economy.  How much longer will this continue if we have this apparant glass cealing when it comes to the arts? I want to experience the very best but not at the price it is. Is this where we have the social divide when it comes to the arts? The elite being the only ones that can experience the very best in all of its glory?

On the 22nd March the Royal Opera House is broadcasting the ballet Romeo and Juliet via cinemas which I think is a fantastic approach to this issue. I can (and will be paying) pay £20 to go and see the performance at my local cinema. Great I get to go to the ballet and I don't have to mortgage my sole to see it.  I might even be able to go for some food and still have change out of £50. It is the best and possibly the only approach we have to this problem at the moment.

As I was in London I did look at buying a ticket for myself but pretty much the entire performance was sold out. I do believe at one point there were a few odds and ends when it came to tickets. Why didn't you go I hear you cry? Quite simply the price!  I am reasonably comfortable paying £80 for a ticket, maybe even £100 at a push but the cheapest single ticket I could find was £180 rising to £400+  So for two of us if I could actually find 2 tickets I am looking at a weeks wages rising to nearly a months wages for the better tickets. I suppose I could spend £100 and become a friend so I get priority booking. Is it worth the risk? I really don't know! Perhaps if my boss gives me a large bonus then this wouldn't be an issues. I could be approaching this wrong? Perhaps I should be satisfied with the opportunity of going to watch a performance at the cinema rather than at the venue? Isn't it human nature to want more? The very best would be nice occasionally!

At this point I think I may need to do a life adjustment exercise. Perhaps this is my mid life crisis? I just want to go to the ballet! Wah and all that! Cheaper than a sports car, less likely to end up in bankruptcy and a far better chance of getting laid at the end of the night I suppose. I would have to get someone I was actually seeing to go with me first and that is a whole different blog post. I don't exactly have people falling over themselves to go on a date with me, let alone sleep with me. (no this isn't a plea)

Back to my point going to see the very best and I assume that if you are performing at places like the Royal Opera House you are the best, is bloody expensive! It isn't accessible to the vast majority of people.