Grumpy grouchers (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Grumpy grouchers
3:46pm Tuesday 21st April 2009
Some people, it seems, just can’t resist being grumpy and miserable.
On a gorgeous sunny morning, we merry band of four bikers were tootling along the canal tow-path at a fairly steady rate, free as it was of anyone else… somewhat surprisingly given the fabulous weather.
Then, in the near distance, a late-middle-aged couple hoved into view and we trimmed our speed, and our leader rang his bell to alert them of our approach.
They stepped to one side, and we skirted round giving them as much space as they could want… all very civilised, you may be thinking, and adhering to the code of pleasant behaviour between different path us-ers.
But then, as we passed, the two pedestrians launched into a tirade of invective against us, bawling at us to slow down, stop doing this, and stop doing that… all couched in ‘colourful’ language.
It followed hard on the heels of another similarly-aged couple on another bridleway two weeks earlier who two of us slowed right down for (we weren’t going fast anyway as it was a tricky uphill section) and rang the bell twice.
They chose to ignore it, and held their ground as we inched towards them and we heard the curmudgeonly gentleman mouthing to his partner: "Make them wait."
Charming. Such a shame when everyone else you meet greets you with sunny smiles to match the weather and cheery hellos.
Still, if that’s the way they get their entertainment, so be it. Each to their own.. ours is enjoying the great outdoors like most other people, not grumping at everyone else!
