Bizarre Occasion 2 - Breakfast

It was 8:00 AM, Sunday morning;  I was standing, partially dressed, at my window (the same one), with my nose close to a small opening of the ecologically designed double glazing hoping that there was more oxygen outside than within (not a scientific statement), and my attention became focussed on the A & W fast-food restaurant (“The home of the hamburger”) across the street.

There was much activity, and the small car-park was almost full ... at 8:00 AM ... on a Sunday!  Bizarre?

I tried to picture a pre-sunrise scene inside the homes of these families.  The mother downstairs shouting up to the kids, “Hurry up;  we’re going to get breakfast now.”  Adding, “Just put some clothes on;  don’t bother with a shower.”

Dad is already outside, clearing the frost from the car windows.

The family come out.  There is no sign of enthusiasm;  shoe laces untied and coats over their arms.  I can hardly imagine the joyful sense of occasion when they arrive at the restaurant ... and discover that the $3.00 special has been discontinued.

Then, I notice a long queue at the ‘Drive Thru’ area.  I think to myself, why on Earth do they want a ‘take-away’?  Perhaps, there are some homes where the mother will shout, “Dad, will you drive over to A & W and get our breakfast.”  I am aware of the great North American Sunday Brunch ... but 8:00 AM!

Are you about to accuse me of xenophobia?

This is Canada ... and bizarre.

Bizarre Occasion 1 - Grass Cuttings

Originally, it occurred to me to call this new Blog series, ‘Stop The World I Want To Get Off’, but it doesn’t fit the format.

Today, I noticed from my high-rise apartment that some contract gardeners were noisily cutting the grass of a terraced condominium complex nearby.  It seemed a little soon after the winter ... but not bizarre.

I am sure that many of you can remember removing grass cuttings from paths, etc., by using a stiff brush, but today, technology has overtaken the brush and, now, a smelly, noisy, smoke-belching gas engine is strapped to the worker’s back to power a blower that blows a storm of cuttings and dust in all directions, at least, away from the path ... annoying, but not bizarre.

Then, it happened.  The worker placed a pollution-filtering mask over his face and a noise-blocking headset on his head, climbed onto a 4-wheel grass-cutting monster, placed the gas-engined blower on his back, started the blower, put the mower into gear and roared off down the concrete road and around the paths with the worker leaning dangerously over the side blowing cuttings in all directions. 

I considered doing a cost analysis of the stiff brush and shoe leather, against two gas engines and four rubber tires ... but that did seem too bizarre.