Tuesday, January 22, 2008

POST-PEDESTRIANISM

“Let’s live dangerously”, thought I on my way to work this afternoon, deciding to try to get a small packet to the UK posted within the 20 minutes I was able to devote to the task. Things were looking hopeful: there were only about 4 people waiting in the post office and when I pressed the ticket button on the machine, out popped prodotti postali ticket number 127, whilst the display board indicated that the holder of ticker 125 was already being served. Ever the optimist, I settled down to wait. Ticket holder 125’s business seemed to be taking a very long time, and after a few minutes the holder of ticket 126 lost her pazienza [I am so relieved when Sicilians do this, too!] and marched up to the counter saying that she only had one small envelope to post, had already had it weighed [at a tobacconist’s] and had the right money. To my astonishment, instead of asking her to wait her turn, the clerk interrupted her transaction with 125 to take the envelope and money! [I don’t know why this should astonish me any longer, but it does.] Meanwhile, Mr 125 was taking an inordinate amount of time filling out a form to post a registered parcel – these forms come in triplicate and have smart plastic covers which have to be peeled off by the clerks – and then it was discovered that he had the wrong type of form altogether, for to send it with that one would have cost more [ this having been explained at the top of everyone’s voices for all to hear]. There followed a frantic search for the right form by the clerk and her colleague [who left her utility- bill- paying clients to join it] and this was obviously not going to be concluded quickly either. Finally, the form was found, Mr 125 filled it in [slowly] and the form and copies were proudly stamped with several flourishes. I went straight to the counter but the clerk insisted on pressing the computer button to bring up 126 on the display, even as I explained that the holder had been the woman who had rushed up to the counter a few minutes before. At last 127 came up and, mercifully, I was not asked “Dov’è l'Inghilterra?” or “Dov’è la Gran Bretagna?” [“Where is England / Britain?”] a question which – I jest not – has, to my knowledge, been asked in other branches! So, all in all, not bad this time – 19 minutes!!

Today the town planners have been having fun by changing the location of pedestrian crossings: there used to be a time when no concessions were made to cars in Italy but now, in this area at any rate, it is pedestrians who receive little consideration. Well, the authorities can move the crossings as often as they wish – the locals [ and I confess I now join them in this] continue to cross exactly where they like, holding one hand out in a “stop” gesture as they do so.

If the post office doesn’t get you, reader, migrating markings and the almost total absence of traffic lights surely will!

21 comments:

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

You might have a problem with your post offices but at least your post gets where it is going!!!! Not like mine that I sent you for christmas ...that as never arrived!!!!!!!!!

Sean Jeating said...

You are enviably privileged, Lady Limoncello. Other people need to read or watch satire; you are allowed to live it. :)
Tremendous title, by the way.

jmb said...

I have just come back from the post office where I posted a parcel in under five minutes, being third in line, which also included filling in a customs declaration for the US. One very friendly, incredibly efficient lady on the counter has us all sorted in no time flat.
Of course we'll now see how the delivery system manages, whether they send it to New York direct or via the Northwest Territories.

Leslie: said...

We were warned when in Italy that pedistrians do NOT have the right of way and to be very careful crossing streets - even at designated areas. Sometimes I think they might have the right idea when I have to stop the car and wait while loitering people dawdle their way across anywhere here! But that's just a driver's point of view. ;D

PinkAcorn said...

ohh! I don't know how you can stand it sometimes. I'd surely be, if I spoke Sicilian, flapping my hands and having a tizzy!

James Higham said...

Walk outside the door and live dangerously, it seems.

Unknown said...

i also love the title of this entry, definately up for 'phrase of 2008!!' i never quite trust aussie drivers to stop at a crossing anyways, so am adept at the waving of arms, and have been known to voice my annoyance too!! I love the style of your writing WCL xo

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Anne. That's a point... I think that parcel must have been misdelivered. Thank you for the much needed encouragement, Sean. Actually I was worried about the title - it was all I could come up with last night and I wasn't sure about it. Hi, jmb. Your post office sounds like bliss to me! Hi, Leslie. Yes, you have to be very careful crossing the road but after a while I realised that they are not actually going to mow me down - it just seems that way! Hi, pink. I have to stop myself heving a real tantrum in there sometimes! Hi, James. Every step's an adventure! Thanks, Kyles. As I 've said to Sean, I wasn't at all sure how the title would be perceived! I really appreciate your encouragement x

Liz Hinds said...

Nineteen minutes: not bad at all and look at the entertainment value.

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

WL I put my name and address on the back as well and it hasn;t come back to me either!!

luso-anglo-german said...

Obviously, post-offices and zebra crossings are other features of everyday life which Portugal and Sicily have in common.
I try to avoid the post-office altogether (I hand in all my letters for them to post at work), but I can't avoid crossing the road and I am always very worried about pedestrian crossings. Nobody ever seems to stop for me - my wife (a Portuguese), on the other hand, claims to know the correct technique: at a zebra crossing, she marches across the road, avoiding eye-contact with the drivers (this, apparently, is the secret...). I must say it is all a bit scary - and I certainly wouldn't advise it, Welshcakes (they might not know about the secret technique in Sicily).

Gledwood said...

Dear me! And I thought us Brits were a bunch of ignoramuses!

Gledwood said...

I have something for you at my blog... it is specially for expats really. If you go to my latest post "Best of British Television" you can click the link and SHOULD be able to view BBC tv programmes from the past week... can I ask you a favour if you don't mind... just to check whether it DOES work overseas? Someone from America once gave me an Animal Planet link and it said my area was "too exotic" or something!!

Ardent said...

Interesting story Welshcakes. I am fascinated by one thing. The Scilians/Italians at the post office refer to England as 'Inghilterra'.

My father was of Turkish-Cypriot descent and he also called England 'Inghilterra'.

Where does that word originate from???

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Liz. I never thought of it that way! Ciao, Anne. I think it was delivered to the wrong house and someone was either lazy or decided to keep it. But it was a lovely thought. x Luso-anglo-german, can the post offices there really be as bad as here?!! If so, I am sorry for you but feel somewhat comforted. I haven't tried the "no eye contact" technique - maybe I will give it a go! Hi, Gleds. You gotta see it to believe it here! Of course - will be right over.

Ellee Seymour said...

Which reminds me, did you get the Christmas card I posted you? It was a special one of Ely Cathedral?

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Ciao, Ardent. Well, "Angle - Land" , having been processed
through Latin and then the variations are corruptions. May I add you to my blogroll?
Ellee, thank you - indeed I did and it is now on the wall in my "office" at the school where it fascinates the students!

Ardent said...

Welshcakes, I would love to be on your blogroll. I have already added you to mine. Sorry, I did not think to ask. I hope you do not mind.
:)

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

I am honoured, Ardent. Thank you.

Gledwood said...

Talking about "Inghleterra" and "Londra/Londres"... etc brings to mind this slightly ridiculous politically correct thing of foreign lands renaming their states/provinces and cities in the English tongue... especially when THEY speak something else... how dare they tell me how to speak my own language! I think... also this stuff is really selective. Nobody calls Paris "Paree" or talks about Napoli, Roma or Milano... nobody calls Bangcock "Grungtep" for that matter... and yet we allow most of the world to call us Anglais, Angkrit etc etc we wouldn't dare say no it is "Inglish" the country is "Ingland" and the capital "London"! Imagine that!!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Gleds. Good point.

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