I have ranted a bit about rural isolation in the past-lack of shops, good public transport, mains gas, bad communications etc etc. Some good news: Broadband is to be available by the end of next month. We are 100 applicants short of the 150 needed for this service in a small exchange but rural communities are being subsidised by the Scottish Executive-strike one for Braveheart. On the negative side we have been chopped at the knees by our newish postie. The Old Manse was the village community postoffice for 6 years-5 of them in our time. When it moved to the Village Hall we continued to have our mail picked up as the incoming post was delivered. A sort of thankyou from the Royal Mail. But our latest postman-a long, dangling streak of unfriendliness(in strong contrast to all his predecessors) is now declining to pick up our outgoing mail from the bootbox at the back door. He had previously baulked at the placing of incoming mail in the kitchen -hence the use of the bootbox. He now puts the post in the box and studiously ignores the stamped outgoing letters 3" away. Can't do much about it as it is a favour and not a requirement. So it is down to the post box in the village like everyone else.
BT have relented and our one public phone box is to stay. Apparently the closure notice was a clerical error. Good -I have never actually seen it used for 4 or 5 years but it is symbol of a public service opposite the old pub which has been closed for 25 years and near to a Smiddy-unused for 50. It could be useful some time and is marvellously unvandalised
Hutton Haiku # 34s
I
have a mobile.
I have a phone.
I don't need
a box.
But it looks so
cosy
as I pass.
