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I am sure the sprouts have not been eaten- who wants to eat green chocolate? (they are not individually wrapped). However, I'm afraid they are several hundred miles away, sorry, and have quite possibly been binned.

Rosalind, I would have been prepared to shut my eyes to eat the 'sprouts' - or stick my hand out wildly, into the container, without even looking. I think I can identify most of the Milk Tray varieties by feel!

Mrs J gives Christmas presents to anyone who provides a service to us and always leaves 12 cans of beer for the binmen. She was surprised to receive a thank-you note from them yesterday.

“Thank you for the beer which was excellent. Unfortunately it has left us with the problem of what to do with the empty cans. Clearly we can re-cycle them in our wagon, but that would deprive you of the 20p deposits. We can return the cans to you, or we could take them to Tesco’s to recover the £2.40. If we do that, you could generously donate it to us or we can give it to charity. Please advise.”

A difficult situation. Any suggestions?

Jigjag

Our binmen are not worthy of any 'thank you' gifts. They don't do anything bad as such, but they do everything by the rules.

I'd leave the binmen to deal with the empties themselves. I'd hope they'd put the £2.40 - and any other gains they've made along the way (!) - in the first available charity box. I certainly wouldn't want the empty cans back, I hate the smell of beer, dregs of beer.

Malone

I appreciate your advice. I will ask them to do what they want with it. Our binmen are very conscientious. Although we re-cycle carefully, they stand at the side of the wagon (on the road) checking everything, without a care for their own safety.

Occasionally they give us a note such as "Please put shredded paper in a separate bag - not in with the box for paper" and attach a copy of the regulations with appropriate underlining. I am surprised they bother to do this and we are pleased to give them something at Christmas.

I was delighted to read on another thread that your father-in-law uses "wireless" in the sense I do. Does he use "mobile" as I do? I am fed up with people asking me if I have a mobile. I usually reply "Yes I do. It is hanging in the hall and makes a delightful sound." They never seem to understand me.

Jigjag
Your binmen sound quite efficient without being 'jobsworths' - highly commendable!

Glad you liked hearing about the 'wireless', a real step back in time. He also talked about buying my husband, many years ago, a 'transistor' for Christmas. My children were totally baffled by this, of course.

I think context is everything with 'mobile'. If, say, you had ordered something in a shop and they said they'd let you know when it was available, the 'do you have a mobile?' question is perfectly valid and sensible. If you're accosted by a random stranger at a bus-stop and he says, 'do you have a mobile?', feel free to tell him about your dangly thing on a string. We have to be realistic - to the younger generation, 'mobile' is totally normal. For many of them, it is the only version they know of a phone. 'Mobile phone' seems a bit unnecessary most of the time - I'm imagining shouting through to my sister in the next room, 'your mobile phone is ringing'. H'mm, I don't like that.

Currently, the programme "Pointless" is being beamed to our television set through some kind of wireless technology. The lady member of the team first to be sent home started every sentence with the word "so", liberally sprinkled it, unnecessarily, in the middle of sentences and, most inexplicably, ended several sentences with that same word. Can you guess what her day job is? English teacher. I give up.

Skyewalker, I used to assure myself that I'd never turn into a grumpy old woman - but when I'm confronted with stories like yours, it's very hard not to get incensed!

skyewalker

So I agree with you so much or even more so. It really does sound so awful.

Jigjag

I think you are overdoing the re-cycling. I put plastic, cans and bottles in one bin and paper in another. There cant be more to it surely?

Malone

I am glad you don't answer your sister's portable telephone. I don't know the etiquette on this, but it must be right to leave it to the owner. I have never answered Mrs J's and when she berates me, I tell her that she has never instructed me how to do so. I have sometimes picked it up and said "Hello" but nothing happens.

Friends insist I should have one, but why. I am always at appointed places on time and I expect them to be. If there is an emergency and I cannot get there, I will send them a telegram.