New Year lament for land of my birth

As I enter my later years as a pensioner with time to reflect and a new year ahead, I find myself wondering where the years have flown and thinking how much the country of my birth has changed.

So much of what made it what it was, sadly, no longer exists.

The friendly bobby on the beat, an excellent railway service that even ran trains on Christmas Day, the wonderful postal service that delivered your letter the next day and made collections seven days a week, the fine medical service where you could see the same doctor on the required day.

I remember when simple common sense applied to the rules and regulations of the country, being able to walk through a city without fear of those who have taken a little too much to drink, a time before politicians ‘spun’ every announcement, when politicians were more honest and ‘expenses’ meant expenses.

It was a time when a bonus was paid in return for excellent service and results, when crusty bread meant the crust flew across the kitchen when you cut a slice, when a ‘golden handshake’ was a reward for great achievements, when railway tickets were affordable, when a utility bill covered only the cost of the utility and did not include hidden charges for ‘climate change’, when we were ruled from Westminster not Brussels and, finally, a time when I could purchase decent beef dripping and bloater and anchovy fish paste!

Those were the days.

Colin Bower, Nottingham