The first decade of the 21st century is nearly over. The Guardian ran a heap of "summing-up" articles yesterday. I think, to borrow Auden's view of the 30s, it's been a "low, dishonest decade". How will it be remembered? As the Age of Bush most likely.
Still with the papers, there was an article in the Observer by Victoria Coren this morning excoriating Post Office management on the eve of the postal workers strike. I'm all for excoriating management, but I want to record- as an act of simple justice- that our postal service up here in the provinces isn't as degraded as hers appears to be. She doesn't know her postie, but I know mine, not by name, but well enough to wave to him on the street; he's a pleasant young guy with a penchant for shorts and sandals. Also the branch at the top of the road has not only had a recent makeover, but has taken to opening on a Tuesday afternoon, which it never used to do.