Monday, April 03, 2006
The Real World (TM)
There is a place that I occasionally inhabit that does not involve politics, the Today programme or blogs. It is called the Real World (TM) and it is where I have been residing for the last couple of weeks, whilst moving house.
Additionally though, I have been deliberately not listening to the news. The batteries ran down on the bathroom radio and I didn't change them, so I have had no opportunity to scream at Charles Clark whilst in the shower. The nearest I have come to politics has been seeing Tony Blair on BBC Breakfast this morning saying "now, look...". No change there then.
And strangely, my life has not fallen apart and the world has definitely not ended. The ID card debate has not changed anything for me personally, and no doubt if I had had one it would have been easier to change my address with everyone. Possibly. Which is not my way of saying that I have converted to the ID card cause (as if), but rather to point out to anyone who might be reading how little this civil liberties debate impinges upon one's life if you don't let it/want it.
I didn't watch the news, I didn't watch Question Time, I didn't listen to the Today programme. I didn't read any newspapers (although if I had I could quite easily have done so without taking in anything of import or interest) and I didn't read blogs. I unpacked boxes, I went to the supermarket, I got on the train and the tube (and cursed the lack of bins, but noticed that at Earl's Court they have see through bag bins), I pottered, I looked at cats. It was a useful window on the politically unencumbered life and a reminder to myself that your own obsessions are rarely held by the world in general.
I suppose I'd better change those batteries now and let the Safety Elephant back into my world. Sigh.
Additionally though, I have been deliberately not listening to the news. The batteries ran down on the bathroom radio and I didn't change them, so I have had no opportunity to scream at Charles Clark whilst in the shower. The nearest I have come to politics has been seeing Tony Blair on BBC Breakfast this morning saying "now, look...". No change there then.
And strangely, my life has not fallen apart and the world has definitely not ended. The ID card debate has not changed anything for me personally, and no doubt if I had had one it would have been easier to change my address with everyone. Possibly. Which is not my way of saying that I have converted to the ID card cause (as if), but rather to point out to anyone who might be reading how little this civil liberties debate impinges upon one's life if you don't let it/want it.
I didn't watch the news, I didn't watch Question Time, I didn't listen to the Today programme. I didn't read any newspapers (although if I had I could quite easily have done so without taking in anything of import or interest) and I didn't read blogs. I unpacked boxes, I went to the supermarket, I got on the train and the tube (and cursed the lack of bins, but noticed that at Earl's Court they have see through bag bins), I pottered, I looked at cats. It was a useful window on the politically unencumbered life and a reminder to myself that your own obsessions are rarely held by the world in general.
I suppose I'd better change those batteries now and let the Safety Elephant back into my world. Sigh.
