Shame on you.
Shame on you all.
If you were one of the people who drove past me, shouted nasty comments at me or made horrible gestures at me, when I broke down on the motorway the other day, shame on you.
I have to admit, as I write this, I am not in the best of form.
I've tried numerous things - counting to 10, controlled breathing, taking a walk outside - but none of them have so far surpassed the anger I feel.
My faith in humanity, in my fellow man, has pretty much been destroyed as a result of this, because in my hour of need, I seen the true side of people and I didn't like it.
I have always been one for helping others. Ok, they may decline your assistance, but at least I tried.
But the other day, on the way to work, my day went drastically downhill when my car decided it wasn't feeling well and came to stop on the M1 motorway, just as I drove on to the Clifton Street onslip.
I was working a later shift and I had been due to start work at 11am however at 10.45am, I was in the middle of a traffic nightmare.
Despite several attempts to get my car going, it decided it needed a rest and so, didn't want to co-operate.
As panic ensued and I began to hyperventilate, I tried to calm myself down and think about what I should do.
I was in the inside lane and so, traffic was still able to get to the traffic lights ahead however, that's not what happened.
Instead of driving along as usual, motorists decided to rubberneck like it was going out of fashion.
Every car which came up the onslip slowed down to glare in at me, especially those who had to go around me to get to the traffic lights.
So, with my heart racing, I was really panicking when I called my younger brother, who is a mechanic.
He arranged for a tow truck to come find me however what was probably 20 minutes, felt like two hours.
I find it shocking that in the whole time I was sitting there, not one person stopped to offer help.
One woman in a car slowed down and asked through the window if I was ok and if I needed to borrow a phone.
However, the reaction of the rest of the drivers was absolutely shocking.
While the vast majority simply slowed down to nosey, causing major back-ups behind them, some chose to shout at me through the window and make nasty gestures.
I particularly like the man who shouted to me to take the car up to a local garage.
Yes, that's a great idea but the car won't start.
Once again, he suggested I take the car up the street to the garage.
Yes, once again, that's a good idea but THE CAR WON'T START.
Then I had the stupid motorists who came up the offslip and parked behind me even though I had my hazard lights on.
Some of them sat for quite a while looking around them while others threw their arms up in frustration that they had been caused this inconvenience.
I'll say it again, THE CAR WON'T START and maybe you should pay attention to what's going on in front of you.
Soon, my hero in the tow truck arrived and my little car was scooped up and taken off and I walked it to work literally on the verge of tears.
All in all, the experience was very traumatic and I simply can not believe the attitude of other motorists.
Shame on you all.
I would hazard a bet that the vast majority of motorists have found themselves in similar situations in their lifetimes and some, will have that experience in front of them.
When we do hear of traffic delays because of a broken down car or get stuck in tailbacks as a result, maybe we should spare a thought for that person sitting in the drivers seat feeling panicked, and maybe we shouldn't rev behind them and shout obscenities.
Let's hope if it does happen to you, a good Samaritan will stop to offer a helping hand.
Although, the way I was made to feel, I wouldn't hold my breath.
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Competition
Easter weekend is on the horizon, so how do you fancy a night out to enjoy a concert in the wonderful surroundings of St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast?
If you're planning on getting out and about more, now that the brighter evenings have arrived, how about enjoying a gig courtesy of Europe's leading Elvis tribute, Jim 'The King' Brown, who will be performing with his Gospel Choir at St Anne's Cathedral on Friday April 21?
As well as selling more than one million albums, the entertainer has recorded with and performed with The Imperials, who were Elvis's gospel choir and Elvis's band, The Memphis Boys.
He is set to raise the rafters of St Anne's Cathedral with his concert entitled 'The Two Sides of Elvis,' which incorporates both the Elvis Gospel and Rock and Roll Shows.
Gospel singer, Isobella Gregson will also be performing on the night.
I have two pairs of tickets to give away for Jim Brown's concert at St Anne's Cathedral.
Tickets are available to buy directly from St Anne's Cathedral or online at www.musicglue.com/belfast-cathedral.
If you fancy winning a pair of tickets, simply email your name, address and telephone number - along with the answer to the question below - to competitions@irishnews.com
Closing date for entries is Tuesday April 18 2017.
(Q) Name the venue in Belfast where Jim Brown is performing on Friday April 21.
Normal Irish News Rules Apply
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What's Hot?
Treats - Easter is two days away but if you're still not sorted, check out Asda's egg-tastic range of decadent treats, from bouncy brioche buns to my personal favourite, Bunny Crumpets. Go on, go treat yourself at Asda.
Tune - There's so much great music out at the minute and in particular, I have taken a shine to Paris by The Chainsmokers. It's a great tune for the work commute.
Return - Bond fans are rejoicing after it was reported that Daniel Craig may be poised to return as 007 for his fifth appearance in the role, following talks.
So Not!
Abuse - Coronation Street actor, Chris Harper, who plays paedophile, Nathan Curtis has been speaking about the level of abuse he gets as a result of the controversial storyline, including being called "a monster" on a train. Oh dear.
Apart - Friends star, David Schwimmer and his wife of nearly seven years, Zoe Buckman have announced they're taking some time apart. The pair, who married in 2010, reportedly said they are working out their future.
Missing Out - It's been revealed that One Direction star, Harry Styles was in the running to play Han Solo in a Star Wars spin-off due to be released next year but bosses decided he'd be impossible to lock down due to his music career.
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Competition
The winners of the Boston Grill competition are Caroline McCrory, from Belfast, and Ann Millican, from Newry
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Easy Peasy Recipe
This week's Easy Peasy Recipe is Burrowing Bunnies, courtesy of Asda.
You will need:
115g Dromona Butter
55g caster sugar
A few drops of vanilla essence
150g Neill's plain flour
25g cornflour
1 Cavanagh egg white
225g icing sugar, sifted
Pink food colouring
10 marshmallows
Assorted sprinkles
To make:
Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.
Put butter, sugar, vanilla essence, flour and cornflour into a food processor and mix to form a dough.
Knead the mixture into a ball, wrap in foil and chill for 30 mins.
Roll out to the thickness of a £1 coin, on a surface lightly dusted with flour.
Take an 8cm round cutter and squeeze slightly so that it forms an oval. Stamp out 10 biscuit 'bodies'
Lift these onto a baking tray lined with baking paper.
Re-roll the trimmings. Use a 2cm round cutter to stamp out 20 'feet'. Put these on another lined baking sheet.
Bake 'bodies' for 15 minutes, and the 'feet' for a few minutes less. Cool on a wire rack.
In a bowl, lightly beat the egg white until fluffy. Beat in the icing sugar a little at a time until smooth and glossy. Colour half the icing pale pink.
Decorate biscuits with the icing, position biscuit 'feet' and marshmallows 'tails'. Add sprinkles to make feet pads.
Do you have an Easy Peasy recipe you would like to share?
Are you the queen of quiches, magnificent at muffins or can you turn out some nice scones?
If so, then we want to hear from you.
You can send your name, address, contact number and recipe (plus photo if possible) to:
Easy Peasy Recipes,
Marie Louise McConville,
Irish News
113-117 Donegall Street,
Belfast,
BT1 2GE
or
m.mcconville@irishnews.com
