I discovered a new problem at the supermarket today. For a long time, reaching stuff off high shelves has become steadily more difficult. Truth to tell, there was always stuff on the very top shelves that was almost out of my reach and the threshold has gone down as I have grown older and probably a bit shorter. Today I realised that stuff at the very back of the bottom shelf was also becoming less accessible. It’s one thing getting down to floor level at home to scrabble something out from under the sofa but the rather undignified manoeuvre to get back onto my feet is not something I want to demonstrate in the aisles of the supermarket!
So, having checked that there actually was self-raising flour at the very back of the bottom shelf, I had to request the assistance of one of the staff to get hold of a bag for me. She then did what should have been done sooner: she moved all those bags to the front of the shelf. Any less bendy folk coming after me will not have quite the same problem.
They’ve decreased the number of manned checkouts at our local supermarket and increased the number of self-checkouts. These seem to be divided into two sections: basket only self-checkout (which always struck me as what self-checkouts were intended for) and assisted self-checkouts. I didn’t bother to find out what sort of assistance was involved. No doubt I will find out. I’m having a sort of personal campaign to keep staffed checkout operational. Some people need that employment. Some people enjoy the chat with the checkout staff.
I also have a bit of a campaign going to pay cash instead of using my bank card when I make small purchases, especially in small local shops. The greengrocery had a notice recently pointing out how much it had cost them when people make card payments of under £10. Besides, I would rather not receive ever more adverts for goods, all based on what I have purchased by card.
After a number of days of shouting and name-calling and accusations flying around and statements of support, Angela Rayner has resigned from her position as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Minister for Housing because of the tax scandal about her second home. There’s a bit of me that thinks she was perhaps ill-advised in the first place when she bought that second home. There’s another bit of me that wonders how she could afford a second home. And will she be able to pay the fine imposed on her and, presumably, the taxes she didn’t pay to begin with?
Meanwhile Nigel Farage, probably also a tax-dodger, has skipped the re-opening of parliament and beetled off the America to give evidence to a US Congress inquiry into freedom of speech. I suppose it was not unexpected that he would play truant; he has form after all. At the inquiry Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin questioned the usefulness of Mr Farage being there at all. He suggested that Mr Farage was just using it as platform to boost his profile in the USA. Quite! Maybe it’s time others realised that most of what Mr Farage does could be construed as a way of boosting bis public profile.
In Spain the Vuelta a España cycle race has been disrupted by pro-Palestine demonstrators. Wednesday’s stage had no winner as cyclists could not reach the finishing line in Bilbao. Some riders in the peloton have suggested that the Israel-Premier Tech team should withdraw from the race. After all Russia has been banned from various events. But then, Israel did take part in Eurovision!
“Israel–Premier Tech is a professional cycling team,” the team said in a statement. “As such, the team remains committed to racing on at the Vuelta a España. Any other course of action sets a dangerous precedent in the sport of cycling, not only for Israel–Premier Tech, but for all teams.
“Israel–Premier Tech has repeatedly expressed its respect for everyone’s’ right to protest, as long as those protests remain peaceful and do not compromise the safety of the peloton. The Vuelta a España race organisation and police are doing everything in their power to create a safe environment and, for that, the team is especially grateful.
“However, the behaviour of protesters in Bilbao today was not only dangerous, but counterproductive to their cause and deprived the Basque cycling fans, some of the best cycling fans in the world, of the stage finish they deserved.
“We thank the race organisers and UCI [cycling’s governing body] for their continued support and cooperation, as well as the teams and riders that have expressed their support both publicly and privately and, of course, our fans.”
So there it is! They’re justifying their presence.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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