6am and there are people up who really shouldn't be!
"That man in the van"
waiting
expressionless
deep-set eyes staring out at me as if dead
not moving
not blinking
only sparking back to life when the coffees arrive
"The ditherers"
the ones who've managed to get up
...just
who spent 5 seconds choosing an outfit
managed to get the car going
managed to grab the newspaper
who look like they're awake
but spend 10 minutes walking up and down the shop
reaching out with certainty for something
then pulling back
returning to the item they refused five minutes ago
Oh that'll do!
"The lads"
the builders
the roofers and 'sparkies'
those keeping our world turning
those who have obviously been out until the 'wee-small' hours
chatting up the women
drinking the bars dry
showing off their dancing skills
'hair-of-the-dog'
now on automatic pilot and off to work!
"The agricultural workers"
arrive in a tractor that's bigger than your house
work in a different time zone
26 hours a day
8 days a week
shorts and T-shirts all year round
brushed hair?
nah!
breakfast on the hoof?
oh yes!
Out the night before?
naturally!
Hand fulls of energy drinks and sandwiches
as preparation for the next 26 hour shift!
"The white-van-men"
knacked from the previous 12 hour shift
4 hours kip
up and at it again
coffees and energy drinks for todays 12 hour shift
cafine - loaded
fuel - loaded
van - loaded
let's go!
There are exceptions of course.
The nurse just off a night shift
happy to be going home
happy to be off to bed!
the happy retired folk
every day is a day off!
let's get up early and drive 'round slowly
"we can't lye-in anymore anyway!"
the happy holidaymakers
we've paid for the hotel
we couldn't sleep because of the bed
so we have popped out for a paper before the all-in breakfast!
and the friendly shop worker
happy to be there
happy to see you
happy with his lot!
...usually!
