meeting

 Climb up the stairs to the upstairs room of the local pub. There are people gathered there already, all seated around the tables that have been pushed together to make a gathering. It is all the local owners, and they want to protest against the bus route being changed to run through the street. The street is narrow, and the busses would make a change to life there.

The meeting is disorganised, there is little structure. Everyone just starts to speak when they feel they can. It is chaotic. 

The waiter comes and inquires for drinks. Drink the most expensive cup of coffee, which is just not really good. The italians make better coffee.

Listen to the arguments being put forward, everyone according to their priorities. And it is all very private really. Hardly anybody has a business which would be seriously affected by the changes. And the arguments are increasingly hopeless. And the anger is steadily greater.

Try to take notes, but this does not work. Try to listen, and then a very loud group of younger men take over one of the tables in the corner of the faux 1908 interior. So even that does not work.

Go downstairs to the basement of the building and use the lavatory there. Then return, and find that the meeting is breaking up. Sign up on a list for future information, and pay for the coffee.

Outside, it is a horribly rainy morning.

The whole effect is cheerless.