Pic'n'Mix
Originally uploaded by Phil_Parker

Pic'n'Mix

I am sad that Wollies is closing. Like the majority of people who feel this way it's no because I was a regular customer but they were a handy fallback when the first place you tried for something didn't have it. Of course the fact that they were rarely, if ever, the first choice explains the groups demise. That and the senior management are largely idiots who haven't been outside their boardroom sing 1952 and didn't realise the world has changed.

Anyway, they will be fine on fat payoffs on top of their existing huge salaries. The people I feel sorry for are those working in the shops who have been told that Santa is bringing them a P45 for Christmas.

Apparently I'm rather lonely in this opinion I discovered when I went to buy this last Pic'n'Mix. On the door and by all the tills was a printed note asking people to be polite and pointing out that abuse or violence towards the staff was unacceptable.

At what point did the need for this become apparent ? Are there really loads of people out there who go out crimbo shopping in a shop that they know is closing down and decide that the the person behind the counter isn't having a crap enough festive season so they will try to attack them ? Sadly I suspect there are in the same way that those who were ripped off by the Lapland New Forest decided that the day would be enhanced for their families by beating up Santa and his elves rather than having a pop at the organisers.

Note, I'm not saying that violence is a good idea in this situation but if you really must then don't have a pop at those on the front line as they will be earning the minimum wage having been forced down there by the local job centre. The guy with the wad of your cash is quite happy for you to do this as a hospitalised elf doesn't get paid. The same priniciple works for call centres - the first person you speak to is cannon fodder. They know it and so does thier boss who definitly won't want to speak to you.

Of course these people the notices are directed towards aren't going to read them. They probably can't read anything except the Sun or Daily Mail which provides them with the idea that the country is going to hell in a handcart. Not that this is anything to do with them. No, it's foreigners. And yobs. And hooligans.