Recently I noticed a news item concerning the increasing level of drug traffic in Britain. Perhaps I shouldn't be suprised. The local newsopaper has regularly reported drug busts by police here and there in Swindon, probably like any other town or city in the country.

Not being a drug user myself I don't generally come across the trade. I've had one offer of drugs from a stranger in my entire life, and I've only seen cannabis openly being used once. Persoanlly I never saw the point of them. If you need drugs to enjoy yourself, you're not, are you?

Okay, I like a tipple or two. In my younger days I got drunk as we all do and thought nothing of it. After feeling quite ill for three days following one christmas bash, I wised up. A bit. Okay, on rare occaisions I still drink too much, but so few of us regard alcohol as addictive drugs, do we?

last night I waited outside the museum for another meeting to discuss community events. A young man sidled up precariously, clearly sozzled, and he began his attempt to converse with me. As he droned hesitantly on, I realised he was talking about alcohol abuse. He's been attending counselling sessions, and despite his difficulties in talking and standing up, declared he was going on the wagon.

Except his mate gave him a can of beer and he was honour bound to finish it. Of course. I understand completely.

Oi! You!

Yesterday I left the house and strolled down the hill. Ahead was a blonde woman in a noisy mood. As I passed by she immediately gave me the benefit of her opinion. "D***head!" She ranted, "You're just a d***head! Have you got a cigarette?"

No, I haven't. This lady ought to stop smoking them, or at least, stick to the kind with tobacco in them.

"Oi!" She screamed after me. "I want a cigarette, d***head!"

Actually you want something else in my opinion. Ecventually she gave up and harangued other people instead.

More Oi You!

On my way to the library today I heard some muffled singing. Huh? A motorbike rider was singing inside his helmet. That's odd. Bikers remain silent as a rule, unless they think the other road user is a complete plonker determined to obstruct their acceleration.

In this case a car was negotiating the corner of a side road, heading for a car park behind the shops. "Oi! You!" yelled the biker, "What'ya doing? What are you doing? Move, you ****!"

And so on. I haven't a clue what these people are smoking but cklearly there's a lot of it around.