A sign of the times.

 Good morning. A man has just walked past my house, as he does most mornings. Head down, leaning forward, peering into his brain which he is holding in his hand. Just like the two figures pictured on this warning sign. We are in the age of turning everyone into zombies. He is probably checking his bus timetable app. Pleading silently to the bus driver, please give me another minute to get to the bus stop. 

For years I was always working against the clock. You have a delivery to make, be there in two hours, there will be a crane waiting to offload you. Cranes cost a lot of money to hire, timing was crucial. Traffic hold ups were not usually taken into consideration. I felt the tension in my head, in my bones. Frustrations were building up the closer I got to the site. I've got to get there, my job depends on it. 

One day the pressure was on. I was driving a bulk powder tanker, 26 tonne of cement. The office had rung me on the cab phone. What time will you be back? We need you to get back and reload for tomorrow. I had planned on having a night out in the cab after discharging the load at the block factory. They insisted, I must come back to base. I thought it might be possible to do that within the legal driving time I had left. I said I would give it my best shot. 

I saw the gates of the factory, let's get in there. I slowed down, but not enough, and threw the cab into the entrance. The next few seconds were a blank. A sickening crunch as the trailer hit the gate post and stopped me dead. I was devastated. 

The lorry was still drivable. The controls for discharging the load were not damaged, so I could return to base with an empty tanker. The next day I had to take it to Metalair at Sutton Bridge to be repaired. I sat with it for three days while they put things right. I expected to lose that job, I didn't. But it was a turning point for me. I would not give in to pressure again. My decision has to be final. 

I blamed the transport office for that incident. They put me under pressure, they told me I had to be back for reloading. After the initial shock had died down in my head, I began to think logically. Who was behind the steering wheel? Me. I was in charge of the vehicle, and I gave in to the pressure. Simple as that.

I know my brain has slowed down over the years, and I could not take the pressure now to get the job done. My sense of urgency has all but disappeared. I don't walk around with a screen in front of my face. It does not matter if I miss a bus. Indeed, people have avoided death by missing a train, a bus, or a flight. 

So if you see these zombies walking about, give them a wide berth. They will step out into traffic. They will walk into walls and posts. They will bash their heads as they trip and fall to the ground. They have been indoctrinated into believing that they cannot function well without a set of instructions at their fingertips. All part of the plan. 

Thanks for popping in. Wet and windy outside. I have plenty to do inside. 

Have a good day. Toodle pip.   ilona