We had quite an eventful, mainly positive, during our recent escape to the north from extremely hot Hampshire, but one incident has had me pondering the issue(s) of immigration and the refusal of some immigrants to accept our way of life.
At the beginning of last week we did a return trip on the West Coast line from Crianlarich to Oban. (Reports of the lovely scenery along that stretch are very accurate.)
All was well until we joined the queue waiting to board the train for the return journey. Immediately in front of us was what appeared to be a large family group from what's often described as the religion of peace, and they seemed to have a problem with our FFDog. Nothing was actually said, but the vibes were overwhelming. We ignored it.
On the train we were sitting within earshot of the family, and quite clearly heard one of the men hiss "filthy animal" at a terrier being led down the carriage by his owner. The dog owner stopped dead and stared menacingly at man, holding his gaze until the insulter looked away, before finding a seat.
Peace seemed to be restored until we reached Taynuilt, where the train stopped and remained in the station. Curious as to the delay, passengers were getting out and chatting on the platform. Extremely long story short, one of the youths in the family group had been caught at the end of the train stark naked whilst "pleasuring himself". The guards had called the police and were waiting for them to arrive. An information sign on the platform stated the train was delayed due to a disturbance amongst the passengers.
Uniformed police placed the youth in handcuffs and called CID to attend. Another wait. In the middle of this, the man who appeared to be the family patriarch was telling the police they were overreacting because the youth was "just doing what boys do". He really couldn't see the problem, didn't seem to understand the youth's behaviour was at best indecent. He got back on the train and a woman took his place, loudly saying her son was being victimised.
Eventually, the youth, still in handcuffs, along with his mother and another woman, and their luggage, were placed in a police van and taken away. The rest of the family continued their journey.
I spent most of the nearly two hours we were delayed on the platform chatting to four 50-something American women (three teachers and a correctional officer). They were great company, and had a plentiful supply of whisky miniatures which they insisted on sharing while discussing Trump amongst other things.
DH stayed on the train chatting to the terrier's owner while keeping FFDog and the terrier supplied with water.
Thinking back to that afternoon, the problem I have with successive governments' inability to control immigration is the fact there is no insistence that those allowed to stay in the UK should adopt our customs and respect our way of life. It appears to be all one-way traffic where we are obliged to facilitate and encompass the beliefs and lifestyle of those who come to our shores, whether legally or illegally.
Defence counsel for Vickrum Digwa's mother attempted to show her as being of good character by stating that while on remand she had been learning English - completely ignoring the fact that since she gave birth to her killer son in this country 23 years have elapsed.
Mahmood has her work cut out.