Big Watch - Pay by Cheque

 

“Big watch - pay by cheque,” was often what the, probably long-suffering, local population might have ascribed to the young Royal Air Force pilots undergoing flying training at the several flying training schools in England in the 1960s.  Less than 20 years after the end of WWII, there were plenty of pilots about.  Lots of new ones, like me, and lots of veterans with lots of stories to tell.  Like larger-than-life John Buckland who frequented the Woolpack on Tuesday Market Place.  With his MCC tie and an inexhaustible fund of ripping yarns, the Lancaster pilot and decorated Pathfinder, became an interesting attraction for the Saturday lunchtime customers.  More so, even, than the landlord’s voluptuous wife Pam who knew full well what she was expected to display when asked for a bottle of White Label Worthington from the bottom shelf.  John Buckland always paid by cheque, cash being somewhat vulgar. John knew just the chap to supply me with a little beauty of a second-hand car – “just the ticket,” he assured me.  Paying for the car by cheque was not an option but cash would secure the best price.  Fortunately, for me, my account with Lloyds Bank Limited, Coxs & Kings Branch of 6 Pall Mall SW1, was in the same state as it had been since being opened upon enlistment in HM service – somewhat overdrawn.  So, for me, cash payment was out of the question and there was no deal resulting, thank goodness.  Others were not so lucky before John Buckland, exposed as a ruthless trickster, slunk away.  Almost, that is, because a year or so later he was spotted in London by Mac Hart, the landlord of Foldgate Inn at Stradsett.  Unfortunately, in the ensuing chase John Buckland gave Mac Hart the slip and that was that – Mac never got his money back.  These days I almost never pay by cheque.  I bank online and make all my transactions online.  With the expansion of contactless payments, I have installed a payment facility on my phone so now, at check out, I can just wave my phone at the reader and get on my way.  Confirmation of the transaction is almost instantaneous so there is no need for a receipt.  John Buckland would have had a hard time today.  Neither are there many big watches about – letters to the Telegraph report a spate of thefts from the wrist in broad daylight. At least they don’t seem to be cutting off the arm with a machete which, apparently, happened to hapless car passengers leaving their limbs draped out of the window in downtown Angeles City next to Clark Air Force base in the Philippines. I’ll probably start wearing my old aircrew watch and leave the Rolex in the safe.

Having just volunteered for a PCR test with the Zoe app I was horrified to learn I tested positive and am now isolating for 10 days.  Never volunteer for anything, particularly, “research into the common cold at Porton Down,” was good advice to us as recruits but I have ignored it in retirement.  To relieve the impending boredom of isolation perhaps I shall invest in a smart watch – just the ticket?  Modern technology will monitor my blood oxygen level, heart rate, and blood pressure and alert me to any deterioration to my current good health – almost too good to be true?  And, when I am allowed out again, through the wonders of near field communications, I shall be able to install my payment app on my watch and simply wave my wrist at the card reader as I pass by.  Big check, pay by watch – how about that?

Driving Licence Anxiety

 This looks like useful information:

SIR – John D Frew (Letters, August 23) seeks to prove the status of his driving licence. This can be done on the DVLA website under “View or share your driving licence information”.

This only requires the licence number (which he would have if he is renewing) and his National Insurance number. The status of his licence will promptly be revealed and can be shared with anyone else who needs to know, such as car hire companies.

Martin Hodson
Loughborough, Leicestershire

Blurred Boundaries and Bluster

 

On 8 Jun 21, The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) published its initial proposals for new constituency boundaries. There is an eight-week consultation process, ending tomorrow.  A “statutory distribution formula” means that England will be allocated 10 more constituencies than at present with each constituency containing about 69-77000 voters.  Presumably the BCE remit did not include an assessment of whether today’s Parliament was fit for purpose?

The proposals for this part of Yorkshire see my constituency, Selby & Ainsty, being split, respectively, between new Selby and Wetherby & Easingwold constituencies whilst our neighbours, Elmet & Rothwell are abolished and their wards distributed, apparently, randomly.

Whilst the BCE proposals were available for all to see on their website, my own party conducted a consultation of their own.  I came by a copy of “Submission of the Conservative Party regarding the Initial Proposals of the Boundary Commission for England for the Yorkshire and the Humber Region,” on Tuesday 27 July 2021 and noted that, “we cannot emphasise enough how important it is to get members of the public, community groups, etc. to write in support of individual elements of the proposals.”  It was also clear that it was CCHQ policy to withhold these proposals until 26 July 2021.  Doubtless, many Conservative Party colleagues, who could have been consulted along the way, will feel dismayed that they are now being invited to fall in behind a fait accompli by the deadline of 2 August 2021.

The subject proposals are presented in detail and a great deal of effort must have been expended in their compilation.  That said, in the limited time available for scrutiny, the proposal itself appears to be something of a dogs’ breakfast and seems to ignore the knock-on impacts on adjacent territories.  On the other hand, it scores, demonstrably in party self-interest.  This is disappointing at a time when our party seems to be very short of recognisable policy initiatives in key areas such as:

•         Paying for Covid and controlling spending
•         Dealing with the hospital back log
•         Catching up with lost education
•         Social care reform
•        Illegal immigration control
•        Energy sustainability
•        The reality of Net Zero aspirations

not to mention “levelling up,” whatever that means.  Voters could be forgiven for getting the impression that MPs were more interested in shoring up their positions with what looks like old-fashioned gerrymandering than dealing with current social and financial challenges.

For what it’s worth, the BCE proposals, at least, have the merit of equalising the electorate numbers in the respective constituencies.  But, if we are not going to address the fundamental issue and radically reduce the total number of MPs overall, one may ask what is the point of tinkering with boundaries within the existing Westminster behemoth?

Meantime, this morning’s Sunday Telegraph may make uncomfortable reading for CCHQ.  Janet Daley, talking about the triumph of slogans over policy, concludes with the advice, “there may be some quick routes to getting the electorate on your side but treating them like idiots isn’t one of them.” Simon Heffer opines that, “it will require a Government with strength in its convictions – and the confidence to face head-on the messy reality of post-pandemic Britain.”  That’s just how Mushroom sees it in this decidedly messy part of Yorkshire.