I AM, I think, at that time in my life that can best be described as the “on the cusp”. Not young, that's for sure and not quite ready for the beige cardigan, slippers and rocking chair, but sliding inevitably towards the abyss reserved for “grumpy old men”.

I AM, I think, at that time in my life that can best be described as the “on the cusp”.

Not young, that's for sure and not quite ready for the beige cardigan, slippers and rocking chair, but sliding inevitably towards the abyss reserved for “grumpy old men”.

I make absolutely no apology for this by the way as, almost to a man; my friends are in total agreement. Agreement? With what? Didn't I say? Hang on; it will come to me in a second.

One reaches a certain age and starts to get irritated enough to write stern letters to one's local press. In my case, It's a conscious decision to grow old ungracefully. I want to go out shouting and screaming and as I look around, there is no shortage of ammunition for the on-coming scrap!

In a letter of mine that appeared in this journal some weeks ago for example, I complained about the few but significant number of people who I believe abuse the motorised disability vehicles facility.

In the same letter I referred to those cyclists who now seem to take it as completely normal to cycle on the pavements. I don't mean just for a few yards to avoid traffic lights and the likes as we did when we were kids but continuously and at full speed.

Now, is it me or have I missed a change in the law? Was an amendment sneaked in one day while my attention was elsewhere? If I ever see a policeman on the beat I'll ask him!

In the last few days I've seen two separate incidents that are relevant. The first was a cyclist who rode over the bridge on the pedestrian walkway, weaving and snaking his way through unsuspecting people who do not have eyes in the back of their head, only to stop at the lights dismount and push his bike across the road to Station Square where he re-mounted and pedalled off at full speed into the distance up the High Street!

The second was a middle aged man on a disability vehicle who, when confronted with a fence about 18inches high that interrupted a short cut, got off and deftly lifted his “mobility aid” over the obstacle with a cursory glance around to see if he was being watched!

Oh yes, I remember. Mobile phones! I guess that will have to wait until the next letter.

G A Woods

London Road South

Lowestoft