Reading Roars!

Matt is a genius.  Matt Rose, that is.  The Evening Post reports in Cow about that - century of cheer! that, after seeing glum faces in Reading, the 17 year old Reading School student decided to dress as a cow to cheer up 100 members of the public.  After fulfiling requests such as bursting into song while standing at an urinal (very a-moo-sing) and, allegedly, juggling a cactus, Matt completed his challenge on Christmas Eve. 

Many 17 years old bum around all day, scowling or playing on their Wii.  Matt wanted to make a difference by helping to make the nation a happier one (it’s interesting how so many people are perceived to be miserable despite that the UK is the 5th largest economy - this may be because of the growing social divide and rampant empty consumerism).

Matt, if you’re reading this, here is my 2008 wish list that will make me happier still:

• A seat on First Great Western trains.  First Great Western is the second worst train operating company in the UK for punctuality and yet unregulated fares are to rise by an average of 6.1%.  If I’m expected to pay so much then I should, at least, also expect a seat to sit on.   Our rail services (with Network Rail/government also to blame), unfortunately, much like the England football team, are a national disgrace.
• Cleaner streets.  Reading’s streets and waterways are nauseatingly filthy.  The smoking ban has resulted in an increase in fag ends on our pavements.  Vomit and discarded kebabs point to the soaring popularity of Reading’s bars.  In recent weeks, I have seen a teenage girl lob a plastic bottle into the water at The Oracle’s Riverside and joking about it with her mates, and another girl casually drop a bottle of water on the ground near Broad Street. 
• A solution to fix Reading’s traffic congestion.  Or more movement in this direction.  At the moment, the only true city characteristic that the town possesses is the extent of its traffic problems. 
• New ownership of Reading FC.   Madejski has done a formidable job.  Now it’s time for someone with even more bulging pockets to take the club to the next level.

Happy New Year!