Yesterday the coal-man delivered 10 bags of smokeless fuel in the traditional way, loose, in bags, carried over his shoulder. On one of his trips outside for another one he apologised for having taken a bit longer than usual - a passer-by, struck by this unusual scene, had wanted him to pose for a photograph. He was delighted. He is proud of his craft and also of his beautiful truck, gleaming as when it started work 50 years ago, which he maintains himself. It announces that he delivers products we don't hear about these days - anthracite, stovesse. It must attract attention wherever it goes. Because it is loved it looks so much younger than its years.
He says that his father was a coal-man and he used to help him deliver, and never wanted to be anything else. The difference from his father's time is that he has to travel far and wide across London as there are not so many open fires these days, but he sees that as a plus, and was happily setting off from here in Croydon to Richmond for his next delivery. One day he delivered to a pub in Putney which had just been taken over by new owners who were starting to re-introduce coal fires. He was asked to stay and show them how to light one!
Mr Price is a contented man. He must be getting near to the end of his delivering days, it is such hard manual work, but he doesn't look forward to retirement. He'll carry on as long as he possibly can - he says the happiest people are those who actually enjoy the work they do. He always has time for a chat and says that is all part of the way of life he has chosen.
This blog is a plea for common sense in public policy. Our leaders don't seem to have any. They just make daft rules for us to follow. We need to assert our right to use our own good sense instead of ticking boxes which can only say 'yes' or 'no'.
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