The cash machine in our local coop store is adorned with a notice which reads: Out of action, sorry! It is to be hoped nobody needs to lay their hands on some cash this morning.
This article discusses whether actual cash will disappear altogether in our modern society, where the truly modern don’t even use cards but have all the necessary stuff on their phones. What do such people do if their phone runs put of battery charge when they are out and about? I wonder.
The article points out that:
“Eight million people in the UK would struggle in a cashless society, mainly those on lower incomes. Cruelly, those who rely most on cash find it hardest to access: free-to-use ATMs vanish from deprived areas at a much faster rate than from prosperous ones according to University of Bristol research.”
And so the unfairness of life goes on.
It’s Ferragosto weekend in Italy. Today, the 15th of August is the Catholic feast of the Assumption of Mary. It’s also the point in the summer when most big cities, particularly Rome, more or less shut down as everyone sets off on their summer holiday. In this country, though, people in the know are advising buying toys for children’s Christmas present NOW as they expect a shortage in December.
“I don’t want to be alarmist,” said Gary Grant, founder of The Entertainer chain of toy shops, “but I can say that there’ll be more hunting around for things at Christmas than there has been for a good number of years. My advice would be, as soon as parents know either what they want to buy their children or what their children are already asking for, if you see it, buy it. Buy it and hide it to avoid disappointment.”
Does he really know or is it a marketing ploy? Buying and hiding could be a disastrous mistake anyway. Children can be fickle beasts: what they really, really, really want now might well be old hat by the time Christmas gets here. And even when they get what they really, really, really want they often revert quickly to a much loved older toy.
“There will never be a toy shop without toys at Christmas, but that isn’t the point,” said Grant. “Children don’t want any toy. They want the toy that they want. Therefore, it will be much more challenging this Christmas to ensure the full availability of all toys.”
What happened to surprising children at Christmas? The grump in me says children should be happy just to get presents!
By the way, did Mr Grant’s parents really want to call him Cary but ran out of courage?
Italy is having a heatwave for their summer holiday period. Our next heatwave looks set for when schools reopen, as often happens. That’s how it goes!
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment