primal scream

in british cities the high street newspaper vendors have developed a secret language over many centuries which they use to loudly advertise their fish'n'chip wrappers. to the untrained ear and on a busy high street, it may sound like a madman's call for help, but locals know it to be just that. in japan primal screaming is reserved for petrol stations. I woke up proper today on the way to work as the call of an experienced attendant docked a people carrier in to fill up with a tank of diesel. it's quite a sight and noise: certainly very theatrical - everyone runs around busily, one is waiting to polish windows, one is ready with nozzle - it really is like f1 stuff without all the gear - at very least it looks like some kind of mad ballet. HHIIIIIIAAAAAAY! (forward a bit) AAAAEEEEII! (forward a wee bit more) he shouts. or it could've been a london standard guy, an evening news guy or even one of the evening times nutters. eventually the bowing commences and the driver is shown a safe passage back onto the road. today though, I'd turned the ipod up and was already halfway to the station. it's too bloody cold - it's even threatening to (hold the front page) snow in osaka.