Maga Americans. Sticky labels on single apples. Splashes on the bathroom mirror that shout “... I dare you!” as the clock ticks, but you still make time to swipe the smirk off their smudged `faces’ with a towel. The computer “lady” at the self-serve check-out, insisting “welcome, please scan your first item...”
Trump. Modest Rossies. That shoelace which keeps coming undone. Feta cheese. Penalty shoot-outs. Southern Comfort, “... have you scanned your reward card...” Kerry in Croke Park. Sugar in tea. Boris Johnson. Rain. Rain. Rain. Caught in the rain. Corncrakes. Silence where corncrakes used to be. Smithwicks.
Humidity. Poodles. Balbriggan. Wednesdays. Shopping. Fitting rooms. Assertive drunks. Boredom. Jalapenos. Blue Nun wine. “... insert cash or select payment type ...” Soap operas. UCD types. Bus stops. Waiting. Horror films. Ricky Gervais. Penalty shoot-outs. Being beaten by England in the Six Nations. JD Vance. Coconut. Pressure. Unwanted invitations. Chocolate ice cream. Superior Brits. “insert cash or touch ... pay with card (a) ...”
The Oval office. Empty cinemas. Duty visits. Portadown. Being in the wrong. Being told I’m in the wrong. Being told “I told you so”. (Words repeated in the same sentence (1).) “... insert card or touch ... pay with card (b) ...” Prejudice. Damp. Pink. Long journeys. Kidney stones. Fanatics. Security at airports. Airports, “... please take your change ...” Aggression. Anti-Irish sentiment.
RM Block
Cool cats. Low seats. Slippy stairs. Curt waiters. “Card only”. Leaky teapots. Getting rained on. Wrestling with an umbrella in the wind. January. Nigel Farage. Empty cycleways (most). Getting facts wrong. Being alerted to the fact that I’ve got my facts wrong. (Words repeated in the same sentence (2).) Holier than thous. Futility. Flat country. Dereliction. Band waggoners. “... ... please take your items ...”
Long speeches, Dull speakers. Queues. Strait of Hormuz. Morgues. Nicolas Cage. Righteous farmers. Serial protesters. Broadcast interviewers who keep interrupting. Sweat stains on shirt collars. Bellowing politicians. Sad Rossies. Bagpipes. Chihuahuas. “Going forward.”
Treadmills. Venus Fly Trap. More rain. And wind. Hangovers. Liquid soap. Temperatures above 28 degrees Celsius. Avocado. Worcestershire sauce. Golf. Netanyahu. The hand pass. Wet feet. Black Tower wine.
Heavy metal. Fossil fuel. Spinach. Tired and emotional and unreasonable and unelected and off-their-heads protesters who insist they speak for the people of Ireland. Road runner. Rap. Wallpaper. Linoleum. “... unexpected item in the bagging area. Remove this item before continuing ...”
List, from Old English liste, for “series of names”.
