We’ve got books galore. Just don’t ask for a coffee!
Yes, bookshops that actually sell books (Mail) do still exist — we have just celebrated 25 years of serving our community by providing them with books.
Behind the Dickensian window of our shop is a Tardis. You might find the occasional mug with a picture of Runcorn’s iconic bridge or a Paddington Bear toy in the children’s section, but the shelves are stuffed with literature in all its forms: hardbacks, paperbacks, fiction, non- fiction, classics, chick-lit, first edition signed copies, Bibles, cookbooks, sports, local history and much more.
We have al s o written and published local history books and produce a Memories of Old Runcorn calendar each year.
Our customers, who are more like friends, show their gratitude by bringing us lemon drizzle cake, plants, bouquets, old photographs and, on a hot day, chilled lemonade.
Our business has only remained viable by supplying schools and councils, and by selling over the internet. even an independent bookshop has to e mbrace technology to survive. Many people have suggested we should include a coffee shop, but we couldn’t bear to lose valuable book space. so we shall carry on doing what we do best — here’s to the next 25 years.
LIZ, BRIAN and CHRIS HOWARD, Curiosity Bookshop, Runcorn, Cheshire.
Silence is not so golden
AM I alone in perceiving a surreal contradiction in scottish politics?
The telegenic Nicola sturgeon was the surprise hit of the General election campaign and appears to have gone down well on a Us light entertainment TV show.
Opinion polls tell us support for the SNP is rising – but why?
serious domestic problems persist for which the SNP administration is solely responsible. A&e waiting times exceed even the SNP’s reduced targets and our schools are beset by declining standards in literacy and numeracy while college places are cut.
New policies which should generate controversy, such as state-appointed guardians for all children and centralisation of policing, don’t seem to concern the scottish public at large.
It is widely acknowledged by most independent advisers that full fis- cal autonomy would cause austerity, yet we can be certain that Nationalist MPs will affect outrage when the inclusion of FFA in the scotland Bill i s rejected by a ‘bullying’ Tory government.
Those of us who think the SNP should focus on addressing scotland’s serious domestic problems and stop obsessing about constitutional reform appear to be largely silent as the Nationalist PR juggernaut rolls ever onwards.
We urgently need a strong voice in Holyrood to speak on our behalf.
MARTIN REDFERN, edinburgh.
Old King Coal still rules
DR John Cameron (Mail letters) says developing countries will use coal to drive their economies and to get their people out of poverty.
A world without coal, as espoused by the green zealots, is unrealistic.
Coal is inexpensive and there are proven reserves to meet 113 years of global production. How realistic is it to generate not only electricity, but also heating and transport fuels without fossil fuels? There are plans to build 1,200 coal plants in 50 countries to add to the 2,300 already operating worldwide – and not a carbon capture and storage plant on the horizon.
‘Green Germany’ has abandoned a planned carbon tax on coal power plants. Due to renewables subsidies Germany’s electricity costs are 26 per cent higher than the EU average and compared to the Us the difference is 150 per cent.
The Us uses shale gas. A lesson here for europe? CLARK CROSS, Linlithgow,
West Lothian.
Smacks of racism
THE suggestion by Mrs Justice Pauffley about foreigners being permitted to smack their children because of ‘different cultural contexts’ (Mail) beggars belief.
If people wish to settle in this country, they must be prepared to adopt our culture.
Female genital mutilation is also a ‘cultural difference’, but we don’t tolerate it. It’s this sort of comment that causes racism, as it promotes ‘one rule for them, one rule for us’. DEIRDRE COBLEY, Warlingham, Surrey.
Squeaky clean
I AM a contractor who looks after the refrigeration system at the Greencore sandwich-making plant (Mail). The workforce wash their hands, use an alcohol wash then put on protective clothing. This happens twice each time they go out for any reason.
In my 37 years’ experience, I have never worked in a food factory as clean as this one.
MIKE FINAN, Worksop, Notts.
Brat Camp Britain
THOSE who don’t support the return of National service because they don’t want our youths to learn how to fight should take a look at the success of TV Brat Camps.
After a few months under a strict regime, ‘ hard nuts’ who have resisted every other intervention to regulate their behaviour gradually learn self-respect and respect for others. Often they find talents they didn’t know they had.
The ‘ passing out’ parades, attended by their now- proud parents, are tear-jerking. One youth said: ‘This is what we need, not prison.’ some join the Army, while others put their dubious pasts behind them and get jobs.
The cost of expanding such schemes nationwide would be repaid by the money saved on benefits, court cases, prison sentences and extra policing on Friday and saturday nights.
TINA DAVEY, High Wycombe, Bucks.
Right to free speech
NOBEL Prize-winning scientist sir Tim Hunt, who resigned from his position at University College london after his comments regarding girls in laboratories, was at worst naive to t hink he could express his comments to journalists without it causing a major furore.
Over the past decade Britain has entered into a culture of offence and blame. It seems nobody can express free speech without fear of offending anyone and we have to keep constantly up to date with the latest euphemisms.
People must accept that people have the right to free speech. soon we will have lawyers chasing down those who dare utter any word another person doesn’t agree with.
GORDON KENNEDY, Perth.
Blood donor blues
HAVING given more than 50 blood donations, I have reluctantly asked for my name to be removed from the register.
When I started giving blood, there was one-to-one staff to donor and two venipuncturists, whose job is to insert the needle. On my last visit there was one staff member to four donors and all staff could insert the needle, which resulted in my donation being voided because the wrong vein was used.
The number of beds was also cut by at least half, leading to long waits. last time I was told they were not accepting ‘walk-ins’, but they saw I had a blood group they needed and I was told to come back after 5pm (this was at 1.30pm).
I have been made to feel like a nuisance. The staff are patronising and treated me as just a number to be processed. LINDA R. RUSTON,
Bloxwich, Walsall.