Not only a terrific Last Night of the Proms on Saturday night with extraordinary performances from the likes of counter-tenor Andreas Scholl and guitar legend John Williams, but also all the fun of having people in Glasgow, Belfast and Swansea involved in a complex TV link and trying to figure out exactly why they were singing England’s adopted anthem – Jerusalem? But the Ashes as well! Three or more cheers, please, for the triumphant English team, and a deserved pat on the back to the Australians who put up some brilliant opposition. More pats on the back for those members of the England squad who kept pace with Andrew Flintoff (still celebrating at 6.15 the following morning).
When St Peter gets to ask me a few questions I hope he doesn’t delve too deeply into matters ecological. You see I have been a shopkeeper in my time and, by a modest reckoning, I have purchased over 100,000 plastic carrier bags which have been given freely to my bookshop customers. That’s a lot of nasty plastic.
French supermarkets, bless them, no longer give out flimsy plastic carriers. The things are now outlawed in France! You make your purchases and you make your own arrangements as to how you are going to cart them home. Certainly you can purchase at the till a reusable bag, and some “hypers” will go through an elaborate procedure of charging you for one, and then giving you credit due to the size of your purchases (Auchun does this).
How long, then, before we Brits show a spark of environmental awareness and try to pull off a similar coup. Ages, I guess, before the Asda’s, Sainsbury’s, Tesco’s, and Morrison’s and their political advisors and lobbyists can collectively agree on a start date for an experimental phase to be launched in a test area (my guess will be Sunderland) in 2007 for a three month period with counselling laid on for suffering shoppers, and a special dispensations being awarded to the local police and social services for associated trauma and suffering.
Meanwhile the daughter reports of the difficulty in renewing Car Tax nowadays. She got the letter from the DVLA, assembled the documents (and cash), and patiently waited for 15 minutes in the queue at her local Post Office.
“No!” came the answer from behind the counter. You’re too early. We cannot issue October car tax until the 15th of the month, but I’ll check your documents all the same. The Ranting Nappa surprisingly refreshes his Car Tax online. No need for “documents” as Big Brother examines your MOT and Insurance details via the National Database and you get the Tax Disc three days later (by mail).
Ho, hum! I think I’d better get the car out and fill her up with fuel. I haven’t done so since yesterday. Not that I’m panicking….
