clam up

This was initially to be another collage about habits for the assignment but two collages two days running seemed a bit over-doey and I realised that a portable telephone can cover them all.

It is good to talk: I wish it was easier. Being able to speak to or message anyone from pretty much anywhere (dense cities and remote woodlands excepted) is a boon for a species whose brain is the size it is partly because of the development of language and a complex social system. Thanks to the mobile lots of people no longer have to hassle shopkeeps to get change then spend ten minutes in an overheated cast-iron cage filled with unpleasant smells trying to conduct a conversation with the earpiece held a safe distance from their skin.

It's not always good to hear everyone else's conversations, especially when people have to SHOUT because the person on the other end is SHOUTING because neither of them realise how sensitive the microphones are and also are probably both partially deaf from self-inflicted ear abuse. Much as people will now email someone a few seats away they'll call or text someone distant rather than speak to someone nearby even though the person nearby has to hear their end of the conversation anyway; whilst guessing the unheard portion can be an amusing diversion it quickly palls.

Finally, this stylishly-dressed gentleman's handsome face was completely obscured by an unattractive telephone whose blue display might match his shirt but doesn't go with his hair at all.
The phone did draw the attention away from his hideously overpolished and over-designed pointyshoes though.

HOLIDAYTOMORROW after a brief in-pop to work to run some stuff. I may also pop into a bicycle shop sale on the way back in case they have any Altura Altitudes going cheap in my size. Also on the topic of shorts... although I did eventually go back to the shop to get a second pair of the slightly more expensive newshorts one pair is now almost worn through in an unfortunate place with the newer pair showing slight wear. Although I have been wearing them constantly in rotation since March I don't think it's right that a pair of shorts should barely last a summer before giving way and am very disappointed and will not be buying that particular brand again. The cheaper pair are my new favourite and are holding up marvellously although there are now sadly no more like them to be had from the fickle seasonally-adjusting shop.