The end of an era, well, the end of several actually

The last few weeks have seen a lot of changes; whilst banks and businesses have been collapsing around the world for some time now it's only recently that they've become personal. First to affect me was the demise of Speed Ferries; not just our favoured means of crossing the channel with it's low prices and speedy crossings but the last remaining fast cross channel ferry. My first trip abroad was on a hovercraft so it's sad to think we'll never travel that speedily across the waters again......

Woolworths is another institution I've known all my life. I still recall my excitement as a child poring over the pick 'n' mix, the hours spent looking at records and magazines as a teenager and Christmas shopping as an adult for toys and cookware for friends and family. I'd love to be picking up the bargains at the closing down sale but then again, the faces of the staff who are about to lose their jobs would no doubt dampen any excitement induced at finding half price items......

A business collapse which represents the end of a more recent part of my life is that of the newspaper, French News, the paper on which I first started working as a journalist. It went into liquidation at the beginning of the month. To be honest, I'd sort of seen the way the wind was blowing a few months back and jumped ship but it was still sad to see it disappear with so many staff, correspondents and subscribers left high and dry. France only has one national English language newspaper now - The Connexion and I'm pleased to say I work for them now so my journalistic endeavours in France live on but my thoughts go out to all those who have lost out as a result of it's collapse.............

Finally, this blog wouldn't be complete without paying tribute to the late great Oliver Postgate whose children's programmes so greatly influenced my life and the lives of a generation of British now thirty and forty somethings. From the Clangers to Ivor the Engine, Bagpuss to Noggin the Nog, his programmes provided a gentle and kind view of the world and their production - created in sheds using hand knitted props makes me smile as it is so British. The importance of sheds should never be underestimated...................