Can't do right for doing wrong (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Can't do right for doing wrong

10:06am Monday 2nd February 2009

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You sometimes don’t know what to do for best.

Out for the usual Sunday morning bike ride, but this time on my own, I came up behind a group of three ladies, one push-ing a buggy, the other two a little more elderly, stretched across the whole of the avail-able path.

Normally, I would call out "ding-ding" or some such in a vain attempt to imitate a bell and to gently warn people that I could do with sneaking past.

This time, I chose to bide my time by crawling on behind the ladies as they chatted away until I could comfortably ease past at a bend a short way ahead.

As I gently made my move round them, one of the ladies moved animatedly to one side and, in tones heavy with sarcasm, said something like: "Don’t bother with your bell, we’ll get out of your way."

So my efforts of trying not to disturb their morning stroll had come to nothing and, indeed, I had caused some angst.

Ho hum. Sometimes, you just can’t win.

Shame, cos everyone else I encountered on the ride was pleasantness itself, stepping aside willingly, wishing one and all a cheery good morning and all enjoying the great outdoors together in harmony.

Just as it should be.