I MUST have been doing a lot of sleeping lately because everywhere I turn I rub my eyes and see something I don't recall voting for. Did I nod off when Sydney decided to bid for World Youth Day? I certainly remember the excitement when we won the Olympics bid, so winning youth day must surely have been a huge event for Sydneysiders. Perhaps I was sleeping.

I guess I also micro-slept when millions of dollars were allocated to boot horse racing out of Randwick, because I definitely did not put my hand up for that one. And I surely was snoozing when Centennial Park, a gift to the people of NSW, was handed over to an expected 90,000 pilgrims as the "overflow" site for the event, because I would never have given that the nod if I had been awake. But my longest siesta must surely have coincided with the placing of one-hour parking signs throughout the eastern suburbs. I would never have agreed to ratepayers' dollars being spent on 18,000 permanent signs, nor to having the people of Sydney unable to park in their own streets.

Clearly, I must have dozed off when it was decided the Harbour Bridge would close, and catnapped when three-day closures of main roads were determined, and kipped when councils elected to spend ratepayers' dollars on glossy pamphlets informing people of road closures they didn't vote for.

Obviously I was daydreaming when money was directed to government schools to install temporary showers and toilets for the pilgrims' accommodation. Perhaps the public would like to pay for showers and toilets for the schoolchildren of NSW. They too are world youth, after all.

Finally, I must have been comatose when new police powers were slipped into place. Police, SES and Rural Fire Service officers have the power to fine any citizen $5500 for annoying a pilgrim. As the song goes, "What about me?" I am annoyed to my core by the juggernaut that is World Youth Day. Who can I fine?

Yes, I must have been doing a lot of sleeping. The interesting thing is that this sleeping sickness has also affected everyone I speak to. Nobody remembers voting for anything at all to do with World Youth Day. I would be very much obliged if someone would poke me with a fork the next time our rights are overridden. I want to be awake to protest loud and often.

Readers are invited to send 450 words on what makes their blood boil to heckler@smh.com.au. Include your daytime phone details.