Warming Up

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Tuesday 13th May 2003

I was out for a walk this afternoon, thinking about my book, not paying much attention to anything. A small excited boy ran past me and shouted to his friend “A bus has crashed into a building.” He grabbed his playmates hand and they ran to look.
Sure enough when I got to the corner there was a crowd of people looking up the road, at the somewhat surreal sight of a double-decker bus, which had for some reason veered off the road at a sharp angle and smashed into the front of a house.
There wasnÂ’t a massive amount of damage. Luckily the house had a short drive and presumably the driver had had an opportunity to brake. But the top front windows of the bus were smashed and the roof above the porch of the house was smashed.
ThatÂ’d spoil your day wouldnÂ’t it?
You go out to work, everything is fine. Then you come home and a double decker bus is embedded in your home.
I donÂ’t know if anyone was hurt and I donÂ’t know what had caused the bus to turn so sharply off the road. There was a sharp corner just before the accident, so maybe the bus had taken it too wide and then swerved to avoid a collision.
Or maybe it was a very low rent terrorist attack.

It is weird the way that two everyday objects can become so interesting and bizarre when placed in an unfamiliar arrangement. I couldn't help but join the gawpers, looking at the confusing spectacle.Though none of them quite exhibited the glee of the little boy, they were all standing there because of the same impulse.


If nothing else, itÂ’s another indication that you should enjoy life while youÂ’re here.
Your house could be hit by a bus tomorrow.