A Rant - By - Eleanor Greenshields

I love Earl’s Court and I love living there. But the Health and Safety people seem to have ignored Earl’s Court Road. If they had ever walked along it – or tried to, I should say – they would be appalled. God help you if you are blind! Cafes lately have sprung up everywhere. So now tables, chairs and awnings have joined the placards advertising meals outside the pubs on every street corner and advertising drink outside every off licence. Overflowing bins, mounds of leaking rubbish adorn either one side or the other on alternate days and who in their right mind thought of putting a bus stop opposite the tube station entrance and in front of a busy bank with two dispensing machines! You take your life in your hands if you step into the road to avoid the crush.

In spite of all this cyclists still ride on the pavement against the line of traffic. So far I have resisted the urge to plunge my umbrella into the spokes of their front wheels. I live in hope of seeing his front wheel buckle and himself flying through the air. But I’m much too law abiding to do it. Besides, I’d be the one to end up in court for GBH, such is the state of our laws.

Which brings me to buggies, advancing remorselessly in battle formation – the sleek pony- tailed yummy mummies chat away oblivious to pedestrians skipping smartly out of the way. And is it my imagination or are buggies getting bigger and bus spaces getting smaller? How often have you been clunked on the side of the head by a spinning rucksack or bashed on the shoulder by a brick-laden handbag or had your ankle clipped by those same wretched buggies?

All my life I’ve been penalized for being single and childless, my choice, by the way. In spite of which I’ve contributed to the upbringing and education of countless children through family allowances and education etc, etc. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is lauded every year for helping families with children. But what about me? Single people don’t exist except when somebody else has maternity leave! As for getting your name on a housing list, the sign above the door should be `Abandon hope all ye who enter here.’