Calmer, Karma, karTER

Being on the road has really been an education and it has also taught me about priorities and what's worth getting worked up about.

Back in the UK, whilst always being fairly easy going, certain things would gain my undivided attention and I'd fight my corner, come what may.

Nowadays, life is too short and I'll give you a couple of examples of how "chill" I'm becoming.

We recently had visitors from the UK (the mad duo, Rainy and hubby, who rode all the way from Bath!) and spent a top day on the island of Brinoi. Part of the tour included a mini-train-on the-road type ride along the island and a stop off at the area where some of the animals were roaming around.

Each bench in the carriage allowed seating for four (slim) adults and we all sat together, leaving our bits on the seats as we alighted to view the zoo. When we returned, we found a couple sat in our seats, trying not to make eye contact.

"Erm, those are our seats"

"Yes, but someone has taken ours"

"Yes, but we're a foursome and you're sitting on our things."

Embarrassed looking away and fumbling of passing over of stuff...

Normal response as old karTER would have been:

"So, just because someone has taken your seats you feel perfectly happy to gate crash another area instead of asking whomever it was to politely leave, do you?"

Followed by up-seating of said interlopers forcibly by the ears.

New karTER, once having ascertained that our guest were happy to sit elsewhere, reluctantly withdrew from the potential ruck and calmly sat next them muttering how the new me was the improved version and now the meek shall one day inherit the earth.

Example two:

New next door neighbours, a group of young Italian (I think) kids having some fun in the sun.

We arrive back at our apartment to find they have left their swimming kit and towels on the clotheshorse outside, drying in the sun. No problem with that, but instead of leaving it on their patio, where it might be in their way, they leave it on the pathway which accesses our front door.

OK, a minor inconvenience but it's narrow and we have to brush past the hedgerow to get by and if laden down with shopping it could prove well tricky. And just imagine negotiating that after a few local beers...?

The old me would have politely have asked them to move it, But now? Who cares? The sun is out and we move upstairs tomorrow so it's not a problem.

See how travel makes you a calmer person. :oD