Whatever Happened To Aurora?

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 28 May 2014, 11:33

I think for me it's not the powerswitch community I'm avoiding, but I just reached the point where I despaired of society heading in either a greener or more socially just direction until absolutely every possible variant of selfishness has been tried and every resource privatised and consumed. In the light of that, I found the eternalities of religion more hopeful and transformative than bashing my head against the brick wall of convincing anyone of the limits to growth, as George Monbiot has just written about so well. Culturally I think we've lost the ability to imagine anything other than the path we're on, or if we can imagine other paths they seem worse on account of everything being more expense and sparse.

I feel more gloomy about society now than I did 10 years ago. I suppose this is partly a function of being 10 years older and seeing many things going 10 years in the wrong direction. Not everything of course. But UKIP are busily working to reverse most of the good things. It's all about what sort of people - what sort of culture - we want to be of course. It's always been about that.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 28 May 2014, 11:51

Indeed. We have to keep reminding ourselves that only 9.4% of the electorate voted UKIP and a lot of those dis so for reasons other than actually agreeing with their policies, such as they are.

And there are a wonderful lot of good folk. As I pointed out to my facebook friends, if they were representative of the population the Green Party would be in government with a massive majority.

Meanwhile, gardening staves off thoughts of doom: http://tithefarm.biz/TitheFarm/labyrinth.html

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 28 May 2014, 11:51

I know what you mean, Tess. It's an 'interesting' time.

I gave up truly despairing because my life is worth more than that - shake your head and get on being a good example, I say.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 28 May 2014, 18:51

I like to get out in the garden or the plot when I'm down in the dumps. But it's been p!ssing with rain all day (and most of the week in fact) and 2 weeks ago someone rode off on my bike! (none of us Plotters tends to lock them, we're so nearby) I'm still hoping the rozzers'll find it somewhere (I've been looking around too) but it's fecking depressing at the mo.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 29 May 2014, 09:48

RenewableCandy wrote:I like to get out in the garden or the plot when I'm down in the dumps. But it's been p!ssing with rain all day (and most of the week in fact) and 2 weeks ago someone rode off on my bike! (none of us Plotters tends to lock them, we're so nearby) I'm still hoping the rozzers'll find it somewhere (I've been looking around too) but it's fecking depressing at the mo.

My total sympathies, RC. I've had a bike I made up from scratch, starting with nothing but a rusty frame, nicked. When you've not much money, it's heartbreaking.

If you're anything like me, the bike becomes part of you. It is not part of anyone else, especially if you do this, that and the other to it. I'm paranoid about getting mine nicked - though I have it insured - as it suits me to the ground and starting again, without warning, to look for a bike that fits me would be a 130% pain.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 29 May 2014, 17:24

Thanks Emord. Too damn right about the one-ness of the bike. Mine had an extremely comfy Russian saddle. The market, nay the entire street, where I bought it no longer exists, ditto the make of bike come to that.

And it's still bloody wet out there. I bet the plot's going to look well hairy by the time I eventually get to work on it

But...but...Molly got her seat! And she's an expert Economist, which is really what we need

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 29 May 2014, 17:39

Molly? Tell me more.

Not short for Mussolini I take it.

nexus · Post by **nexus** » 29 May 2014, 18:36

Molly Scott-Cato- I voted for her

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 29 May 2014, 21:53

She's nice.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 29 May 2014, 22:45

And in a blatant continuation of my thread-hijack...when my bike went MIA, I put up a notice saying something along the lines of, I miss it, and would whoever rode off on it, once they got bored, kindly bring it back. So this jolly eve I'm cycling past the said Plot when what should I spy embedded in the gatepost but a bike...that isn't mine?? It just gets weirder and weirder.

Anyway, since I was on my way elsewhere at the time, and physically unable to de-embed the victim, I phoned Rozzer Central with the update. I hope someone, somewhere, will be happily re-united with their steed and that my turn will come soon.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 30 May 2014, 08:33

Re-cycling?

(I still mourn the loss of the bike I had stolen when I was 12 years old. You never get over these things, no matter what people say.)

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 30 May 2014, 09:44

When our two beloved Brompies were liberated from our locked shed, a previously liberated bike was left in our garden.

The plod said to ring the council to collect for scrap, but eventually we tracked the owner and returned it.

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 30 May 2014, 10:04

At the risk of turning this into a 'how I miss my stolen bike' thread, I still haven't replaced the bike I lost in 2006 from the canalside near my narrowboat. I usually locked it against some railings, concealed in bushes, but one night I came home and I was so tired I just wanted to get to bed so I left the bike concealed in the usual place and didn't lock it. By the morning it had gone. I thought it would be okay since the boat yard itself was a 'gated community' and there was no access from the canal unless you had a boat yourself, and I was right at the end of the boatyard where no one else would bother to come. But no - first time I ever left it unlocked and poooof - gone. It was such a perfect bike, I'd have to get one exactly the same if I ever replaced it.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 30 May 2014, 11:05

biffvernon wrote:Re-cycling?

(I still mourn the loss of the bike I had stolen when I was 12 years old. You never get over these things, no matter what people say.)

A bike at the age of 12.

I had to buy my own when I got my first job. You were lucky...etc etc etc.

But it's true - they're more personal than many other acquisitions.

And sympathies to Tess, that's a sad story.

Bikes are stolen in town rounds here but outside towns, I'm amazed at the number of houses that have bikes lying around unlocked in full view. Well, trailers and tools, all sorts of valuable goods too, just sitting there.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 31 May 2014, 16:30

The embedded mystery bike has (this morning) now been de-embedded. I seriously hope it was the Plod, but no-one has said anything. Sadder still, there's now a gap in the fence where it was that's wide enough to let a dog in. And, you'd think there was no such thing as string the way people "walk" their dogs 'round here...