How to Upset the Neighbours

February 8th 2006. I went shopping yesterday on my scooter. Freezing cold (well, 8 degrees, cold for this island!). I hadn't bothered with a fleece under my jacket as it had been lovely the day before. No gloves either, nor hat. Loaded up with Metaxa, bread, tins and whatnot.

So I was thinking longingly of a hot cup of coffee and standing in front of the heater. Arrived in our little "road" - this is a cement covered track with potholes and half-completed roadworks with cones balanced precariously on the biggest craters.

This is always a bit of an obstacle course, but yesterday it was cluttered with parked cars, bikes and the like. There was even a police car (that made a quarter of the force).

I started weaving around them, concentrating. I suddenly became aware of angry looks. I stopped, looked around. Where the day before had been a piece of wasteland the dog loves to investigate and use as her personal toilet - were about 50 people, all standing around the local priest, praying while he blessed this piece of land (which I now understand is to become a nursery school). The area was completely cleared, not a weed nor shrub in sight.

Decision-making time... 3 seconds. The road is uphill. I can't wheel it past with engine off. Do I compound my error and carry on to a hot cup of coffee and warmth, or do I stop and wait? I know the blessings can take half an hour and I don't know how long they've already been there.

Well, I don't know what anybody else would have done, I put my head down and rode throwing out signomis as I went.