Exit signs are on the way out says Mick

AS I ventured out on one of the cold and frosty mornings we’ve had I found myself singing under my breath “It’s Victory V weather again, it’s Victory V weather again.”

This set me off thinking of other advertising jingles many of which were for products no longer available (I’m not too sure about the dusky brown lozenges) like “You’ll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.”

Then there was “One thousand and one gets rid of that workaday frown, one thousand and one cleans a big, big carpet for less than half-acrown (12 ½ pence).” Lesser known but one I recall was “Get the gingham tin with the good things in, get a Heinz hot snack meal”.

Some companies have also gone – who remembers “John Collier, John Collier,the window to watch” for the men’s outfitters and tailors? And “This is carpet you can afford by Cyril Lord.”

Let me know if you can think of any more. In the meantime, see if you can complete this jingle “I’ll risk it for a ??” or can you name the briefly lived bar that Cadbury’s brought out to rival Mars?

Clippies clipped

On another morning I used my bus pass and when I looked at the ticket it reminded me of two jobs that fell into the category that like coronation guide sellers there is no call for nowadays – bus conductors and inspectors.

I’m sure we all remember certain conductors and clippies as well as the fear you had if you’d fare dodged and you saw one particular inspector, a large gentleman, get on and begin checking tickets.

There was something special about the conductor coming round, twisting the dial and rolling out the ticket if you were on a Midland Red service or the even more special feeling in the days of Brown’s Blue when the man selected a coloured cardboard ticket from his rack.

Do you have any memories of real life Blakeys and Butlers from “On The Buses”.

Salty Santa?

What do you want for Christmas? How about one of the condiments of the season?

I heard a story about a homeless young man who was asked what he really wished for and said a tub of salt! He might have said a roof over his head or even a place of his own but selected a common household item so he could put it round his sleeping bag to keep snails away as he slept on the street.

Tomorrow is election day and I will be putting my cross for any politician worth his or her salt who focuses on the real big issues and I don’t mean just the magazine of that name that supports the homeless.

Brexit, though important to some people should not over-ride other things as it will do nothing to help the poor or solve the climate change crisis which we are all belatedly waking up to.

Please think before you vote and not blindly back a party because you always have or like the man I heard who said he didn’t bother about anything else than getting out of Europe.

Sign of the times

For those who like to follow fashion, Mick Armstrong from Earl Shilton tells me exit signs are on the way out.