Queuing

I recently read an article in BBC News about how businesses are 'lining up a queuing strategy'.  

Apparently firms are 

So firms are:

'...clearly paying considerable attention to the opportunities and restrictions that queues have on their business...'

Of course the idea of multi-tasking in a queue is not new - look at those car drivers who, stuck in a traffic jam, elect to learn a foreign language whilst waiting.

Queues are often used by EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers as an example or sign of 'British democracy'. Apparently though, British democracy is in 'terminal decline'.

You may know this poem by Professor Duffy:

Democracy

Here’s a boat that cannot float. 

Here’s a queue that cannot vote. 

Here’s a line you cannot quote. 

Here’s a deal you cannot note … 

and here’s a sacrificial goat, 

here’s a cut, here’s a throat, 

here’s a drawbridge, 

here’s a moat … 

What’s your hurry? Here’s your coat.

Listen to the Poet Laureate here

Read more...

I mention all this because I have been looking at these pictures:

Waiting for a bus?

Gathering together because of the cold?

It looks like the bus is coming!

It was then that I realised that in fact these were four actors for the shortly-to-be-performed play 'Wonder'. They're not waiting for a bus!

I suspect they're not waiting for God either...

If that has piqued your interest then have a look at the poster on the right of this blog - and come along to see the plays next week. It's only a fiver (50p to charity) - so why not come along more than once?

The plays will make you think - and (hopefully) make you laugh.

Stephen Cheriton (Demetrius in New Rep Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Emilia Petryszyn (Lady Teazle in N1 Theatre Company’s The School for Scandal)
Denholm Spurr (John Keats in Pale Fire Theatre Company’s Romantics)
Louisa Tee (Anna in Opera Upclose’s Don Giovanni)

MC: Richard Ward.

Directed by Hugh Allison.

Assisted by Anna-Jane Niznikowska.

All tickets: £5 (of which 50p goes to The MS Society)
(www.mssociety.org.uk)

7.30pm on Tues 20^th, Wed 21^st and Thurs 22^nd November 2012.

At The Dogstar, 389 Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8LQ.
(Nearest tube: Brixton).