I’m very often stumped for ideas a day or so before I sit down at my steam-driven PC to write something that hopefully entertains, amuses or provokes you into looking at a particular subject from a slightly different angle than you did a couple of minutes before you read my ramblings.
Because the funny men and women who inhabit the comedy sphere, look at everyday things and events from a slightly skewed angle to find the comedic element.
That’s how comedy routines, comedy films, comic novels and even the jokes you see/read on the net are created.
Conversely, when they see or hear about people being unfairly put down, brow-beaten and oppressed by the so-called ‘Great and the Good’, the absolute best, sharp-witted comedy performers and writers can puncture the preening, posturing, pomposity of those who look down on the majority of the population.
This they do through ridicule (which isn’t too hard) or satire (which can be much more effective and leave longer-lasting marks, but is much harder to accomplish well).
Which all has very little to do with what I wanted to talk about.
Looking back through my old articles, I see that one of the early ones complained about the proliferation of pesky potholes everywhere and the damage they did to our motor vehicles.
I pleaded with the Highways Department, local government officials, civil servants, the Welsh Assembly Government and even the PM.
This was so long ago it may have been Harold Wilson.
Thank goodness those in authority listened and something was done about it.
Now, all these years later, we no longer have a problem with potholes, do we?  Are you kidding me?
Elon Musk’s Space X rocket is in better shape than our roads.
I’m not one to exaggerate for comic effect, but there’s been a pothole in our street for more than a year and it’s now so deep that when I accidentally dropped a 50 pence coin down it this week, in order to retrieve it I had to borrow two extendable ladders, a miner’s lamp and a canary.
I’m telling you this hole is SO deep, I swear I can hear people down there talking with Australian accents.
Look, I usually avoid getting political, but car owners, self-employed tradespeople, hauliers and, in fact, everyone who drives on our roads, pay for the upkeep or roads through general and national taxation.
And we’re not getting our money’s worth!
Why do we take it lying down when there are so many other people willing to take to the streets to complain about pressing issues?
To make it clear, I am not saying I agree with their methods.
Potholes can cause serious damage to our cars. Fact!
Yet all we do about is moan, “Something must be done!”
We need a leader, a figurehead, a champion who will lead the march on the Senedd. Well, be honest, Westminster is a bit of a trek and the weather’s looking a bit iffy.
Our champion must demand that every pothole is repaired . . . fast!
Do you agree?
Great!
Let me know how you get on…