Friday, July 25, 2008

Signs of the times

This is a strange country. From the Times Online today. First,

A self-employed painter and decorator has been given a £30 on-the-spot fine for smoking in his own van because it is classified as a workplace.

He had popped out to buy teabags.

Then,

While returning from work the other day, my partner phoned to ask if I could pick up a couple of cans of lager. I popped into our local shop and took two cans to the counter, where I was informed that “due to binge drinking” they were now unable to sell me just the two — I had to purchase the whole four-pack.

It is no wonder I am confused.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Welcome to my world. I had a Level One (I'm not sure what a Level Two is) Complaint of racism filed against me because I asked a kid (repeatedly) not to rattle his strands of wooden head-beads in class.

-- Mack in Texas

Anonymous said...

This is strange, Pete, because in Manchester when the Rangers fans were along the council tried (very unsuccesfully) to enforce a policy of only one can per Ranger to avoid binge drinking. (In that case King Canute sprang to mind, as blue shirted lads exited Tescos with cases of lager.)

Anonymous said...

Aha!

Perhaps someone has been binge-socking.

I just went to every shop in the High Street (M&S,BhS,Next,RiverIsland,Debenhams, maybe others I can't remember), and they all, without exception, will only sell me socks in packs of seven pairs.

Why?