On The Street Where You Live

Saturday. 10.30 a.m. I have just returned from Morrisons, at Westcroft, where we had our monthly Men's Breakfast in what is called the 'Community Room.' It's scheduled to begin at 8.30, but there seems to be a hold-up regarding the food which we have to order and then have brought through by the café staff. That is fine normally, but as the session is only 90 minutes, it does rather eat into the time and so we don't get our full time together.

Earlier, when I took Alfie out for his first outing of the day, we were walking along the path that leads to the crossing onto Oldbrook Green. Alfie was doing his usual meander, sniffing every leaf, blade of grass and occasional weed which sticks out of the wall outside the S.I.A. building (Spinal Injuries Association), when a male rider on one of those electric scooters came shooting past. I didn't hear it, but, had I been standing a few feet further out on the path, I'm almost sure he would have collided with me. No sign of slowing down, making a sound to warn me of his approach, or anything. I think he drove onto the grass and then was off, crossing Strudwick Drive at 35-40 miles per hour. It was all over in a few seconds, but it was somewhat frightening. An older, probably more unstable on their legs, person, might have been knocked down and seriously injured, or even killed, by such an incident. Yesterday I saw a couple riding on one of these scooters, along the road. I don't know whether this is legal or not, but it does seem somewhat foolhardy or people to ride these things on the road, as there is no sort of safety feature on these things. If you were hit by a vehicle, the likelihood of you being killed would be quite possible.

Sunday. 6.05 a.m. Yet another mild and bright morning. One of those electric scooters almost collided with me in exactly the same place as it did yesterday on the path alongside Strudwick Drive when I took out Alfie. There was no warning from the rider and the thing was almost silent, so I couldn't hear it coming. I managed to get out of the way in time, before it was likely to run into me.

Monday. 7.40 a.m. A bright and sunny morning. My digital thermometer reads 72ºF, so a temperature it's easier to live with. All the trees along Strudwick Drive are losing their leaves. It's because of the dry weather and the fact they have had virtually no rain for weeks and are stressed. The whole of Milton Keynes, along the verges of the grid roads, looked so parched and brown as I drove to church yesterday morning.