Return to the frontline

Let’s go back a couple of weeks. Postering is boring. But its addictive. The day starts with a van. An open topped silver Toyota van. Three in the front including the Candidate. Two in the back. One ladder. This soon becomes a problem. You need two ladders with five people. Two per ladder. One over to drive the van. The group stops for twenty minutes to borrow a ladder from a shop keeper who is a member of a rival party. He doesn’t like their candidate so the ladder is ours. Two ladders. On our way.

We stop at junctions. Pile out across the road. Rivals have been out earlier. Their posters are everywhere. The Candidate is unhappy. He is sure there is a threat in a certain area from a rival, so it’s away from the main road through the constituency. Everyone thinks he’s wrong but everyone keeps schtum. We drive into the area. Poster here. Poster there. By the end of it everyone is convinced he’s wrong and are muttering within earshot of him about it.

Its not easy postering. First extend the ladder to full height to get up the pole. Tie the plastic ties at the top of the poster. Then pull the ladder down to 45 degrees so the lower ties can be tied. That 45 degrees is a bit dangerous. Concentration fails, ladders slip. Twice the Candidate almost falls from a ladder. Losing him would be a disaster.

Sometimes we don’t use the ladder but jump onto walls of gardens. You can see people looking out their windows trying to figure out should they come out and give out. They don’t.

Kids have a compulsive need to make a comment. Doesn’t matter what. Anything will do if they see someone on the street. “Wouldn’t vote for that effer if I was paid”, or “**** (rival candidate) is going to win. Your man is shit.” Kids are future voters, so there’s no point in arguing with them.

An hour in a second van arrives. Two more people, looking enthusiastic, maybe because they’ve missed the first hour.

So back to the vans. By 4 o’clock the troops are mutinous. The Candidate has neglected to stop for a break after five hours of driving and postering. While this is okay for the Candidate – fired up by the possible loss of his seat – it cuts much less ice with the rest. By 4.45 the first indications that some will be leaving come in. The Candidate isn’t pleased, but can’t do anything. It’s not an army.

After that people drift away. Second van first. Their duty done.

And the next week? The wind and rain tear half the posters down.

Back to the Toyota.