A rent conversation somehow turned into a twenty minute lecture about emissions zones and I still do not own a car
My landlord came round this week ostensibly to look at a leak in the bathroom ceiling and somehow ended up delivering a full twenty minute monologue about ULEZ, congestion charges, and the general state of London traffic, none of which I asked about, none of which relates to me in any way since I do not own a car, have never owned a car, and cannot legally drive a car following an incident in 2018 I do not discuss.
The Actual Leak Situation
For the record, the leak remains entirely unfixed. I got a full traffic policy briefing instead. This feels, on reflection, like a fairly accurate summary of my experience renting in this city generally, plenty of opinions offered, structural problems left quietly unresolved.
Why This Debate Refuses To Die
I will say, once he got going, some of what my landlord said was not entirely without merit, he drives a van for work and has genuine, real financial stakes in this argument that I do not share, and it is worth admitting that the ULEZ debate genuinely does look completely different depending on whether you are the person paying the daily charge or the person who simply benefits from marginally cleaner air without ever driving through the zone at all.
Where I Actually Landed On It, For What It’s Worth
I do not have a strong personal stake either way, no car, no commute requiring one, but I will say the health data behind the scheme sounds like the kind of thing worth taking seriously rather than dismissing purely because my landlord happens to find it personally inconvenient during a conversation that was supposed to be about a leak.
The Leak, Again, Because It Matters More To Me Than Emissions Policy
He has promised someone will come look at it next week. I have heard this promise before. I am not holding my breath, and I have already positioned a bucket strategically beneath the worst of the drip in the meantime.
What The Satirical Press Reckons
Predictably, The Daily Mash has had considerably more fun with the broader state of London infrastructure arguments this week than my actual, real conversation managed, which is a genuinely low bar given how my actual conversation went.
Gig Update
Rehearsal was solid this week, actually, properly tight for once, and we are seriously discussing recording a demo properly rather than the usual phone recording we normally pass around and pretend counts as a reference track.
A Small Update On The Ceiling
Still leaking. Bucket holding steady. Landlord’s opinions on emissions policy considerably more consistent than his actual repair schedule, a pattern I suspect will continue indefinitely regardless of how many further monologues I am forced to sit through.
Closing Thought
No car, no commute, plenty of opinions about traffic policy delivered to me anyway by a man who still has not fixed my ceiling. More landlord diplomacy and gig updates at my page on The London Prat.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com
