The Vajra Parrot Squawks!

Woke this morning feeling perkier than I have done for the past week, then realised the reason was that most of the more debilitating flu symptoms that have been plaguing me lately have gone. For now, at least.

It's always 'for now', though, isn't it?

Our bodies are just like the cars which so many people cherish. At first, new, sexy models, replete with shiny gizmos and subwoofers which can even disturb the dead, tear about the streets and country lanes, the terror of more sedentary drivers and geriatric pedestrians; after a few years, though, the bodywork's looking a bit dated and the engine needs more attention from the mechanic; eventually ... well, we all know about the final destination of every Fiat Punto and Lamborghini.

While we're cruising round lanes or down motorways, if the car's getting us there and there's no ominous shuddering on the road, then we're content ... for now. We temporarily suspend our knowledge of the car's final destination. We carry on like this for years, sometimes even running it down without care or consideration until one day it conks out and leaves us stranded in the middle of nowhere, laden with shopping and with a dead mobile phone battery.

Life's a bitch, eh?

Well, actually, it's just a car; soon it'll be time for a new model whether we think about it or not, so now's a good time to get used to the idea.