Garden fork

I have a big garden fork which I use to turn over my compost bin. Last night, it became a weapon.

We live in a quiet suburb that has some nice straight roads. This occasionally attracks idiots in their cars, who think it is a great idea to do burn outs along our road at 4 am.

I have a real issue with this kind of behaviour, it stinks of ego, of lack of consideration. It also manifests itself because, for the kids doing it, there are considered to be no consequences; they won't get caught (I haven't seen a police car around here for years), no one will challenge them on their behaviour because people are in the mindset that they do not want to get involved. So we all sit in our houses, having been woken up by screeching tyres, and complain about the idiots- yet do nothing.

So, if you happened to be walking down my street this morning at 4.10 am, you would have seen some bloke running along in stripped pijamas, holding a garden fork.

The car sped off, but the kid who was standing videoing the event on his iphone was left stranded. His initial response about living in the area and just seeing the car didn't hold much weight as he couldn't tell me the name of the road he lived on. I told him to show me the video, which he did. The car didn't have any plates (of course not) and the kid was in a hurry to get out of there.

No injuries were dished out but I hope I made my feelings about him and his mates using my street as their drag strip, and what I planned to do if I saw them again, very clear.

Yes, stupid vigilante behaviour, it just makes matters worse, I will get hurt myself, I should let the police do their job, there is never an excuse for violence (or threatened violence). I know all that.

Or maybe the kids will think differently next time. Maybe they will be concerned they may be challenged. Maybe they will think about things a little more deeply because someone, or some people, may get out of their houses and let their feelings clearly known.

They may even be carrying a garden fork.