Hello readers and welcome to my first contribution. Being a local man I hope you will find my contributions interesting.

Now I know somepeople call me a miserable old scrooge but I have to say how dissapointed I was last thursday when I made my way to the city centre for my first late night shopping expedition. There I was walking up the high street of our faithfull city at about 5.45pm expecting to find everyone in the christmas spirit. how wrong could I be, whilst I was expecting to see lots of street entertainers, brass bands and carol singers etc, there was in fact virtually nothing to remind me that it was christmas other than the lights strewn across the main street in full glory. The city was not that busy anyway, but most of the shoppers seemed to be in a great hurry (as usual), and some of the shops weere closed anyway - obviously they were not in the christmas spirit at all. The only entertainment I could find was a couple of 'one man bands' huddled in shop doorways with a cap in front of them to catch any coins that were thrown in their direction, and none of them were singing christmas carols anyway! On top of that their dogs were fast asleep! perphaps that was the best option! Can we hope for better next year?

Much has been printed in the Worcester news lately about the traffic moving around the cathedral island during the two minutes silence on remembrance Sunday. I was lucky to serve in the West Mercia Special Constabulary for many years and I think I was on duty at about 22 remembrance Sunday parades, and casting my mind back I have to say that I cannot remember the traffic deing allowed to move during the two minutes silence. once that was over we allowed it to move around the island during the wreath laying etc, this I think was acceptable to all. Is it too much to ask for the traffic to stop for 2 minutes just once a year? surely we owe that to those who gave their lives for us in conflict?