I may have found the end of my tether

I don't hold much with PC. I tend to think that if I want my views respected a little respect to the views of others, no matter how alien to mine, is due.

But as I type I am feeling physically sick. And, for once I'm not exaggerating. My food is climbing my oesophagus in an expression of disgust.

It could easily be the re-heated pasta from last night that I zapped in the office microwave and devoured at about 12:30, but I think it's something else.

We have new neighbours in the office.

Not in itself, I agree, news. And hardly sick-making.

They are moving in, as they have been for a fortnight, and are noisy buggers, and I suspect deeply ignorant. Mind you, I always think noisy buggers are ignorant, but I have other evidence of which more in a second, and perhaps more on another post (unlucky being your middle name - why else would you be here?). My suspicion is they are aliens, perhaps from as far away as Swindon. Grandfather, father and son ; all three generations working together. That's weird in itself.

The offices here are on a farm and have been a haven of peace and quiet. An escape from everything (funny how an alien invasion makes me feel fonder of them than heretofore). Now we have banging and sawing and grunting and swearing - all noises that I guess will ameliorate as their moving-in becomes less and permanent residence takes over. What we won't lose are the loud voices shouting to each other for things, or discussing global warming (it's not the carbon you know, it's the nitrogen; all the experts are wrong, but we, the aliens, are right), and more particularly the shouting for and at the dog.

Because they have a dog. Not in itself a crime, I have one myself. This one though is a big rangy black Labrador and trained (prone?) to bark at people it doesn't yet know. So my co-worker in this space was aggressively treated yesterday and, justifiably, blew his cool. Still nothing to for me to get upset about. But then today, lunchtime and the grandad calls the dog for a walk "come on Nigger, let's go on a walk?"

Fer fucks sake.

It pulled me up sharpish. And I don't want to dwell on it, or even think about it. But it has really upset me. And I'm really surprised by my reaction, but it has made me feel weak and sick. And I think that may mean I have found my hitherto unexplored limit. It's a curious and unpleasant feeling. I guess there are people who have to live at the end of their tethers all the time.

I wouldn't want to swap with them.