As one obliged to survive the plague of roadworks, I have been wondering what causes these afflictions and how they might be cured.
Little physical effect is apparent month after month, so their aim must be spiritual.
My first clue to their mysterious purpose came from the Goon Show episode, The Scarlet Capsule, or Quatermass OBE (1959). In which, a strange object is unearthed during one of the Government's "digup- the-roads-to-congest-the-traffic schemes".
What weird motives drive the Government to aggravate the voters so fiercely? Well, now I can reveal the much more ancient origin of the curse.
Three and a half thousand years ago a Hittite priest in central Turkey wrote out the rules for a Bronze Age ritual, and there among the instructions were the words: "Nu harwan 7 pedan paddanzi."
Which translated means: "They shall dig up the road in seven places." All we need now is to find the cure.
- Stephen Durnford, Wivelsfield Road, Saltdean
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article