What a fool's paradise!

The silly season is over, or is it? Why do I get the feeling that although we adjust to climatic changes so easily, we refuse to adapt to the New World order.

Everyone is grumbling about everything and everyone all the time. Are we so perfect? Is life treating us badly or are we the violators of our own existence? I am not going to philosophise on life, I am simply going to comment on the attitude of spoilt and irresponsible human beings who think that life revolves solely around themselves, their family, their intimate friends and pet! I also take umbrage with those in authority that are dismally failing to correct this appalling conduct.

A few weeks ago, like one of the many thousands commuting to and from Gozo, I was on the verge of breaking down in more ways than one when I approached Mgarr harbour.

The engorgement of cars was indescribable although I would like to commend the police on duty for their effort to minimise the tangible road rage propelled through the stifling heat and to restore, in their own amateurish fashion, some law and order in the never-ending queues.

Having been in possession of pre-purchased ticket, I was signalled to join the fast lane, so to speak! I was there for centuries, creeping down the hill patiently tapping the brake pedal to the chants of Gregorian music.

When, after an eternity, this marathon was accomplished and I had practically reached the finish line, much to my dismay, I discovered that I was the first car locked out a few feet away from the barrier granting entry to a chock-full quay. My only consolation lay in the fact that I was leading the next endless queue.

But, lo and behold, as soon as I settled down to accept my fate, a metallic gold Volkswagen Passat (I have taken its number if anyone is interested), one of those pompous luxury vehicles, true to form, decided to pull a fast one. Believe it or not, it overtook my car and me and literally plonked its protruding stuck-up nose inches under the barrier.

Mayhem broke loose! A Gozo Channel crewman tried his best to calm the waters and civilly explained to the jerk that he was not the only Supreme Being in a queue of pre-purchased ticket holders! The employee then proceeded to reassure us all that the "moustached cheat" was not going to barge his way onto the jetty before us all.

Seeing that access was securely blocked by a shocking orangey-red movable plastic obstacle, and feeling heartened and relaxed, we all silently lay back in our sweltering humble carriages (with due apologies to I.M. Beck) waiting for the next boat to reach the shore.

My only quarrel (more like seething wrath!) up to now was exclusively with the contemptuous twerp, his three passengers and kitten.

Imagine my consternation when a tall balding gentleman, organising the chaos on the inside of the enclosure, without much ado, decided to remove the gigantic Lego block and wave the Passat in!

This accomplice, in layman's clothes, had witnessed the previous drama, so he had absolutely no excuse under the sun to justify this strange behaviour of his.

If I were the crewman who had worked so hard to appease all and sundry, I would have abdicated my role, stormed off and directed my steps and disdain towards the general manager's office!

In this day and age, with all the emphasis on education, it is intolerable to cross paths with these "immature" adults who, for some God forsaken reason, feel superior to the rest of us inferior beings and still manage to get away with it to boot!

The incompetent and irresponsible head broke all the rules in my book! First and foremost, he should have assisted his overwhelmed subordinate to pacify the law-abiding ticket holders; secondly, he should have used his authority to chastise the charlatan and send his vehicle flying back to the end of the queue; thirdly, he should have offered his regret for the disagreeable incident, and, last but not least, praise his junior for doing his job well. That is what people in authority are paid to do!

We blabber about customer service and that's just what we do - blabber! We imagine we are educated and that's just what we do - imagine! We assume we have reached higher standards and that's just what we do - assume!

What a shame! What a dammed pity! My children are right; I really must stop dreaming that we will ever reach excellence!