New converts are always the most fervent, especially in the Catholic Church ever since St Paul saw the light. I notice this in myself.
I treat with disdain things like Siri or using my telephone for navigation. I eschew Facebook and Twitter. But sometimes I do adopt something new and immediately am converted into an ardent adherent. It has just happened with Uber. All I have to do is to remember to keep my ‘phone charged and it is almost as good as having a personal driver. Cashless and speedy are the main pluses and dodgy navigation an occasional minus. Look at those seven Uber taxis within a couple of minutes of my front door.
Recent posts about Operation Sea Lion omitted something important. I have now decided to mention it as it has a bit of back-story. When Peter Fleming wrote Invasion 1940 it was serialised in The Sunday Times. The ST submitted it to the Censor (this was 1956) who successfully demanded that this bit was not only omitted but denied. In the event the ST omitted it but did not deny it. When the book was published in 1957 the controversial passage was left in.
So what was all the fuss about? Fleming interviewed Winston Churchill about plans to defend Britain in 1940 and was told that if the Germans had made a landing he had directed the military to use mustard gas against them as a last resort. Shocking, perhaps, but acceptable under those circumstances and I think you should know.
On a different tack, I was reading an article somewhat belatedly that referred to a paperback published in 1967 that ran to five editions and wanted to buy it. I am going to have to be a bit mysterious as it will be a surprise present for a friend who will read this. Anyway, I looked for it on Amazon and there were two second-hand copies on offer. They are both priced at £999.11 + £2.80 for UK delivery. Will the price come down? A paperback that ran to five editions certainly isn’t worth that sort of money. Anyway, I found a cheaper copy in the United Sates although it will take a while to arrive. Technology came to my rescue. I will read it before giving it away, so you may hear more of this purchase next year. Meanwhile what was on Top of the Pops in 1964?