Swinbrook Village

Last Thursday found me at Burford School watching the schools' production of Les Miserables. Not an easy musical to stage by any means.

I'm told that a great deal of money was spent on it - and it showed. Full 'pit' orchestra, lavish and clever sets as well as costumes.

The talent, enthusiasm and dedication of the cast, crew and orchestra certainly ensured an evening to remember with stunningly professional renditions of the more memorable songs from the musical.

I have seen the show 4 times in the West End and I can't say that I left this performance feeling any less elated and moved. It was a wonderful experience.

Thanks to everyone.

I bought a small disposable lighter today called a Cricket. It's really quite good for a change. Strong flame, flint works as it should. In all, I am very satisfied with it but for one thing. The entire reverse side of this simple device is adorned by an unsightly barcode sticker.

'So what?', you say.

Well, if translated to an Audi TT, in proportion, it would obscure the boot, roof, door, windows and much of the bonnet on one side and it would take a team of hand car washers three days to get it off.

I am reminded of one Sunday 2 years ago when I put £1.20 into the hands of a young girl serving in the local Spar for a copy of the Telegraph. "You'll have to join the queue", she said, "I have to swipe it".

I waited for 15 minutes behind various shoppers, accompanied by their noisy offspring, who fumbled through their purses at the last minute for money as it must have come as a shock to them that their goods would require paying for.

That was the last time I bought a newspaper.

Someone got to this one before I turned up with the camera. Seems some of you do, rather than write. Never mind, the next picture is the one at the other end.

The other end…

Seems that with a third of school leavers not able to read and write, Foxes, Labradors and Whippets probably won't catch the drift either.

Now this one above is pointing towards Johanna Butt's house (about 2 miles as the crow flies and across some cropped farmland). I've put in the red arrows for those less familiar with the actual direction of the public footpaths.

"Private Land - No Picnicking".

The arrow shows the public footpath. The law states (in my words) that a person on a public footpath may stop, admire the view and take refreshment. Doesn't say for how long and certainly doesn't list the approved fare and mode of refreshing oneself.

Having said all that, I'm off to buy shares in Hewlett Packard's ink division as demand will probably be rising (hope their not using an Epson).

ps There's an interesting story about how the name Epson came to be. The EP stands for Electronic Printer, but I can't remember the rest (it's based on Japanese logic, I think).