British Wisdom

Had a lovely breakfast this morning with Australian friends Margie and Paul, the very ones who arranged a lovely little house for us to stay in just outside of Oxford. Amidst coffee and pastries and map-reading at Paddington Station, they handed us the key and will give us a proper Oxford tour in a day or so. Meanwhile, we boarded the train after breakfast and I couldn’t help but be impressed by the ongoing words of wisdom both written and spoken. For example:

 

Mind the gap between the train and the platform.

 

Brilliant! The platform is where we stand awaiting to be transported to the place of our dreams, the valley of love and delight that is our birthright. The train is the vehicle that takes us there. (And yes, we have to pay.) The gap is the space between where we are and where we hope to be and we would do well indeed to “mind that gap,” to pay attention to it, to step deliberately and mindfully so we don’t stumble onto the tracks. Good reminder!

 

The second one is equally appealing: 

 

See it. Say it. Sorted. 

If you see something that doesn’t seem right, we want to hear from you. When you see it, say it and we’ll sort it.

 

So I’m thinking that every British policeman and public official that I encounter, I should let them know that in my country something indeed doesn’t seem right. Since we don’t seem to be able to handle it, would they be so kind as to sort it out for us? Please?

 

More on the day in Oxford to come.