Laid low by anthropomorphism
There can be no more inauspicious a return to rural peripateticary than an exploding engine on Day One. When a water pump redirects its attention to cleaning the A1 instead of cooling the engine, terminal over-heating is not far off.
However, full marks to the member of the 4th Emergency Service who, already more than an hour past his finishing time, towed me from perilous parking to Automobile A&E where a now inert Corsa sits patiently in triage. I often joke that I only bought it for the excellent sound system. Perhaps that’s all that remains of it.
I cannot recommend highly enough Alain de Botton’s The Consolations of Philosophy (particularly the chapter on Seneca) for enabling the embracing of such situations with Zen-like sanguinity.
I’m pleased to report that this happened on the way home from our In Service, where my belief that I work alongside some of the funniest people in the business was renewed.
Sounds like the book should be available on prescription.
Comment by David Gilmour — August 18, 2008 @ 6:10 pm