Soltalk February 2018 | Page 27

Jottings stone (35 kilo) mutt, up the hill, she was given another chance with a lighter dog called Fizz. But she dropped Fizz, too, complaining that her legs had “turned to jelly.” It didn’t help that during the exam her dog got into a fight with another one and bit a police officer. Yet despite the fact that three other women candidates passed the test succesfully, Kim-Louise played the “sex discrimination card” and a tribunal agreed with her, ruling that the test must be made easier and ordering instructors to undergo “equality training.” Vegans rise up! Police officers in rural Wales have been blasted for posting pictures of their cooked breakfasts online because it’s “offensive” to vegans. The North Wales Rural Crime Team, which has long been praised for its pioneering use of social media, posted a photo of a large pile of sausages, bacon, eggs, beans and toast in support of the Farmers’ Union of Wales Farmhouse Breakfast campaign. The initiative encourages agricultural workers to get together over a cooked breakfast to consider the pressures facing the food and drink industry. But one Twitter user was not impressed when the force posted a picture of their fry ups. She wrote, “Speaking as a tax payer I’d prefer them to be less selective when answering questions and perhaps not post breakfast pics that offend vegetarian/vegan followers - pretty thoughtless considering the job title they have.” However, others disagreed, complaining that vegans “rule the roost.” One wrote, “We as carnivores or vegetarians don’t dictate about their preferred diet so it’s time they stopped trolling and whingeing.” But it gets worse. During January, a militant vegan launched into a bizarre rant accusing a meat-eating 17-year-old of cultural “appropriation” because the teenager enjoys tofu, and claiming that she was “stealing what we need for your own selfish use.” The vegan, who prefers to remain anonymous (Wise move, ma’am!) even claimed that tofu was “strictly” for vegetarians and vegans, and implied that the teenager was eating tofu, “because it’s cool and in.” The exchange on a vegan Facebook group went viral with contributors pointing out that tofu is sometimes eaten 25 alongside meat in Asian countries. White stuff Authorities in Bristol warned in early December that a section of the Metrobus route would be closed if it snowed. The stretch is an expensive elevated bus-only section which goes over a railway line and then under Brunel Way. Unfortunately, when it was built, nobody noticed that it was too narrow for snowploughs. When it snows in Montreal, it snows. So the city authorities have a well-organised snow removal plan to keep the roads clear which involves clearing parked cars so that the snow ploughs can get through. In January, however, police patrols were caught examining a snow- covered car which was illegally blocking the way and were apparently ready to issue a hefty fine. However, they finally realised that it was a snow sculpture, created to look like a snow-covered luxury limo by a local prankster. They did ticket the “vehicle” though, with a note that simply said, “You made our night!” The sculpture was later cleared away by the ploughs. Continued overleaf