What has caused heaven and hell to fall on my head, all because I happen to live in the countryside? Rural voters must be seriously concerned when it comes to carrying out daily lives.
Before Christmas, I picked up and dropped off one of our guest guns at the railway station. Nobody had bothered to inform me that vehicles were not permitted into the station. I found a parking space a mile from the station. No matter, I picked up my friend and made a mental note not to be caught out on my return journey.
I left for the railway station giving myself ample time to park. I had decided to park in the railway station car park but, lo and behold, my land rover roof was hitting the car park guide bar. Grrr, I then had to find a parking space a good 20 minutes walk from the station. I got my friend and his luggage on the train, I didn’t mind so much but he was 83 years old!
Our social drink at lunchtime has also totally died a death. Every body has serious and long faces. In one fell swoop they have managed to destroy a precious element of our social life. Where can you find a taxi or bus when you live 10 miles up a glen and 50 miles from the nearest city? As usual, the deterrents imposed go way beyond proportionality and common sense in such cases.
Time and time again, it is the people residing in the countryside who feel denied the things the rest of society considers normal. Both my son and daughter have had to have satellite systems installed in their houses, just to allow them to receive emails and the internet. One of them can see Arthur’s seat from the window but can only dream of simple communication.
