Your 15 minutes too late in this world could result in someone else's 50 years too early in the next!
Hi everyone, Rikki here with you. I'm going to start this newsletter on a different note to usual but bare with me and hopefully you'll understand.
On Tuesday evening, I was working in the office a bit later than usual, and left around 7pm. As always I took my normal route home but that evening I had an experience I don't believe I've ever had before – at least not that I remember. I had just turned off the Mullaghbane Road onto the main Portadown-Armagh Road, heading towards Portadown. Picture the scene: the roads were wet, it was raining (as it has done most of the week) and everyone was being a little more careful than normal on the roads. Everyone that is, except for the driver of a black Range Rover Sport, that was using the road as his own personal race track!
Needless to say, he slammed on his brakes as he realised how close he was to my car, which obviously infuriated him, as he proceeded to blare his car horn at me and flash the lights in a manner I can only describe as road rage!
Now, I'd like to assure readers that this was not aided by any sharp and late turn offs on my part, as I was already out on the main road and had driven for a good 500 metres, and as I turned out of my junction there was no sign of this 4x4.
This driver then proceeded to drive extremely close to the back of my car and I could tell from looking in my mirrors it was obvious he wanted to overtake me. Anyone who knows this stretch road will know that there is a solid white line on either side for a good distance. I might also add, to my memory, this is a 60mph road; I was cruising at 55mph and there was a car and trailer in front of me.
My point, to this driver I'd like to say, you had no idea if I was an elderly person, scared of driving in the dark, afraid of the wet roads and rain. You did not know what circumstances I was in and neither did you care!
When I was 19 years old (seems a lifetime now), I was in a freak car accident caused by a lorry driving too close to me and not paying attention; my car veered off the road, down a bank where it rolled three times and thankfully I escaped with a broken arm and minors cuts and bruises. The lorry driver, thankfully, admitted fault a number of months later.
Back to the current day and my message to the 4x4 driver: please, please have more consideration for your fellow road users. Your life is no more important than mine or anyone else's. If I choose to obey the law and drive with due care and consideration, that is my choice. Equally, you have your own free will and choices but I ask you to consider this: if I had been an elderly person that you driving scared and you had caused an accident could you live with it?
Your 15 minutes too late in this world could result in someone else's 50 years too early in the next! Please be careful.
Ok, so down to business - here's some of the up coming events over the next few weeks:
What's On
Market Place Theatre: Eddi Reader, 40 years live on stage — www.armaghi.com
Philomena Begley celebrates sixty years in showbiz at Market Place Theatre Armagh — www.armaghi.com
Tim McGarry and the Hole In The Wall Gang return to Armagh for two nights — www.armaghi.com
Property
Here you go - a little noisy at some of the properties we have listed this week..
For Sale: 19 Charles Baron Mews, Lurgan — armaghi.com
For Sale: 31 Ridgeway Park North, Portadown — armaghi.com
For Sale: 40 Annagora Road, Portadown — armaghi.com
Armagh Jobs
On the look out for a new job? Armaghjobs.com has a number of new recruiters and they are looking for you!
Fryers / Cook required at Glaze and Roll — armaghjobs.com
Panel beater need at Teds Autoparts — armaghjobs.com
Killeen Hardware require a bathroom and plumbing store person — armaghjobs.com
In the news...
Manufacturing company plans to build new multi-million pound factory in Portadown — armaghi.com
Call for action on road after bus narrowly avoids toppling into field in icy conditions — armaghi.com
Man banned from attending matches following incident at Portadown football ground — armaghi.com
Paedophile horse trader jailed after schoolgirl victim left traumatised — armaghi.com
Drivebuy in Armagh motoring on with expansion plans — armaghi.com
‘You’ll never walk alone’ funeral message from Liverpool FC to grieving family — armaghi.com
Former Keady convent to be demolished to make way for housing development — armaghi.com
Newry businessmen pay fines for nurses clamped outside Daisy Hill Hospital — armaghi.com
Travel in style and comfort with new service from Luxury Chauffeur NI — armaghi.com
Quiz
Last week's answers were: 1. 2000; 2. Prince Charles; 3. St Patrick's COI Cathedral; 4. 2,000,000; 5. Hillsborough Castle; 6. Miles; 7. Bomb Scare; 8. He was the last person to be executed at Armagh Gaol; 9. Ballysaggart Lough; 10. Portadown and Newry
Well done to Ben Jennett and Keith Cunningham who both got 10/10. They were two of three who got full marks. 11 others managed to get 9/10.
Play this week's quiz here
Thanks for reading everyone. I hope the topic I have raised changes the mind of just one person who might be tempted to act less rationally on the roads, and in turn stop an accident occurring. I would as also like to hear from you on your experiences of the roads.
As always, here's a picture of Ollie (who at the minute has a wee sick tummy) but doesn't he carry sickness well!? Enjoying the fire in the cold weather.
