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It's mystifying

 I opened a new packet of tin foil and I was having trouble tearing off a sheet.  Finally I reached for the scissors and cut it before examining the packet carefully.  There was no serrated edge.

A pipe has broken in the communal courtyard and unfortunately it is the sewage pipe.   I rang the managing agents and said it was a health hazard, apart from a big hole that has appeared in the middle of the parking area.  She said that as the estimate for the repair is nearly a 1000€ a decision whether to repair it or not would have to wait until the owners' annual general meeting in December when they would  all have to agree to do  the work.  I pointed out that there was raw sewage running past the bottom of the steps,  which I must go up in order to get into the apartment but she would not be swayed.  I spoke to the other apartment owners.  One is depressed and just burst out crying, the young couple above me didn't really care but referred me to their father, my American neighbour said he was glad I was doing something about it, concurred by the owner below him, and an old man, who seems to walk around in his pyjamas all day, just growled.  I have only been in the apartment for 3 weeks so why am I doing all the work?  The pipe must have been broken before I even bought it.  However it is my door in front of which the sewage is running so I will call again Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.....until I get action.

The glass in one of my pictures was broken during the move so I took it to a framer's just along the road.  This morning I went to collect it.  The lights were on, the door was open but the shop was empty.  I called out, several times.  Silence.  I wondered into the back of the shop where the work took  place and called out again.  Silence.  I looked around the shop.  The card machine sat on the counter, the cash box was underneath and the place was full of framed pictures with  eye watering price tags on them.  I waited 10 minutes, during which time I could have emptied the place.  There was a note book on the counter so I left a note with my telephone number.  The owner rang nearly an hour later.  Was she missing  all that time?

A British MP was caught lobbying for two companies who were paying him £100,000 a year as a consultant.  Johnson tried to defend him by changing the rules in Parliament but  after a public backlash, the MP resigned.  He blamed the media for his downfall, as well as his wife's suicide.  In fact he blamed everyone but himself.  No, Mr Patterson, you brought it all on yourself because you are greedy.  Remember that when an old person asks you why you took his free television licence away and tried to trick pensioners out of the triple lock.

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