The Mail …

OK, ok, that’s kind of an odd title, I know.

But you hadn’t worked out that I’d be writing another email to the Brentwood Gazette, at some point, didn’t you … ?

Didn’t you … ?

Well, if you hadn’t guessed by now … !

At any rate, the one I’ve sent them was the result of a story I’d seen in this week’s edition: that a local bakers is due to close down.

Which is disappointing: even more so, as I know the owner.

Here’s what I’d said …

Dear Sir,

I’ve got to admit, I read you article in this week’s Gazette, about the close of the Coates family bakery, with a certain amount of sadness.

After all, I’ve known the current owner for many years, both socially /and/ as a customer, for many years and know how well the shop has served the area.

So it’s saddening to know it’s going.

In part at its going.

In part, I say.

Because, as the Gazette have highlighted over the past few months, the Warley Hill area has suffered in not being renovated to the same extent as Brentwood High Street.

Losing one of the last bakers in town can’t help.

And what makes things worse for all of us who live in the area is that — for whatever reason — Brentwood Council has never managed to beatify the Warley Hill area in quite the same way as it has the High Street.

And with cuts from both them and central government on the way … ?

I can’t see any improvement for the area — or council tax breaks for small businesses in the area — coming soon.

Yours,

Paul Downie.

Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

Hopefully, that’ll get published: especially as they’ve had a running story about the state of the Warley hill shopping area for some time.

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Actually, talking of mail, I’ve got to admit that I’ve already said ’Thank You’ to an old friend who sent me some, just recently: including a copy of Sky’s TV version of Terry Pratchett’s Going Postal.

Which was absolutely fantastic fun!

Just to summarise, it’s a story that sees Richard Coyle as Moist von Lipwig, Ankh-Morpork’s most wanted con-man, given a reprieve by Ankh-Morpork’s ruler — the always ambiguous Lord Havelock Vetinari, wonderfully played by Charles Dance— on one condition.

That von Lipwig revives the ageing Ankh-Morpork Post Office.

Or walks out of the door.

Which is not the pleasant option it sounds … !

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Either way, though … ?

Terry Pratchett’s novel of Going Postal is a riveting good read.

Sky’s adaptation of it is equally as much fun!

And well worth checking out!

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