Telegraph link (My bold)
Andrew Marr wrote:
Here's a small confession; my life has been greatly improved by breaking the law. For years I have irritated friends and family with a driving style they call manic, but which I have always regarded as merely brisk, or decisive. It was not, I hope, dangerous, but it involved a lot of whooshing, braking, hyperventilating, glaring, pooping, snarling and lurching. Red lights? A demonic plot to slow me down. People pootering along at 30? Dawdling swine, lazing their lives away, didn't they have places to get to?
Psychologically, every journey was a roller coaster of anger, frustration, contempt and excitement. Yes, small people were sick in the back surprisingly often but it made going to Waitrose a little more interesting. Imagine Mr Toad showing Jeremy Clarkson a thing or two, and you have an accurate mental picture of the Marr style. Or had. For, reader, they got me. After a quarter of a century of driving without accidents but with, er, verve, I was finally caught by a speed camera. This time a nice smile and regal wave at the thing did not help. I was 15mph over the limit and lost three points on a previously virginal licence.
And the point is, it has worked. I haven't broken the speed limit since. I go pootering along myself. The music on the stereo is more likely to be burbling classical than pounding rock. Chaps in Reliant Robins, or Austin Allegros, edging nervously in from side-streets can rely on me to slow down and let them in … well, sometimes. It's a change in attitude.
Once I was the guy behind you with a hand on the horn. Now I'm the smug fool in front, blocking your way. And on balance, I have to admit, it's made me a happier soul.
I hope there's a certain amount of tongue in cheek here, otherwise it appears that while his attitude has changed it may not really have been for the better.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
Members
Still, if there's any truth in it at all it sounds like he's no better after than he was before... just differently bad.