An interesting week in lots of ways. It started with a telephone call from a young man with the broadest Scottish accent you'd ever heard, trying, I think to sell me Scottish Electricity. I did grasp some little bits here and there such as 'Did ye no know how easy it is to get on a lower tariff?' Well, I 'didny', but we didn't seem to get any further because I just couldn't understand him, and so he gave it up. Which makes me wonder, just why these sales administrators put people on telephone sales with strong accents, and who are on to a loser to start with. It happens all the time.

Not to be outdone, they had another attack in the evening, this time another Scot, but whose accent was not too difficult to understand. He tried to explain that even though I was getting my supply from Northern Electric it was through the National Grid and I have no doubt Scottish Power had some advantage. Maybe it has, but when things are running reasonably smoothly I don't like changing them around, as invariably there's some hiccup and you wish you'd never bothered. However, when I told him I paid on a fixed monthly basis with Stay-Warm, he said goodnight, after reminding me to read the small print. Now I wonder if I missed something!

- I've mentioned this before, but I just don't know what it is about the owners of diesel-engined vehicles, and why they won't turn them off when parked. After a lifetime involved with vehicles there isn't, as far as I am aware, any problem with turning the engine off whilst going into a shop, and the re-starting. I called for some petrol the other day and there was a car already standing there in the other lane, diesel engine running, two young children playing about inside it, and its driver leaning on the counter chatting with the owner inside. I filled up, and both man and car still stood there whilst the kids romped around and he only moved when I went to get paid up. Illegal to start with, but highly dangerous, for one of them had only got to fall against the gear lever and the car could have ended up anywhere.

Yesterday, parking up in a supermarket car park, elderly gent sitting in his diesel-engined new motor car waiting for wifey who had gone into the store. You guessed it. Yes he had his engine running. Anyway, I went inside, did my own shopping which took quite some time, as I can never find where things are, and returning to my own vehicle, he was still sitting calmly there with the engine thumping away, adding to the global warming, and smell which hangs about especially in the warm weather. I nearly asked him why, but then thought better of it. Coaches parking in the Market Place tend to be offenders in this respect, and someday I'll find out why.

- I know it's a bit late now, but what a grand event was Malton's Motor Show, and all the idea of one man, who is to be congratulated for his efforts. It seem ironic that such a successful event should be that of a private individual, although there were lots of gold chains around the place, I gather it was only Ryedale DC who gave some help with the arrangements. A shame that the flag of a notorious Christian persecutor should be flying overhead, whom Malton and Norton appear to have nominated as their patron saint.

However, everyone who went into the spirit of things had a good day I'm told, and I understand that Murray's Caf had it suggested to them that they put chairs and tables out, which they did, and had the best time they've ever had. I also heard that most of the cafes did well, but what of the shops? What indeed. Most of the events held in the town are designed as an aid to help businesses, but what did they do - mostly nothing, and the general complaint by the many visitors was: "Why aren't the shops open?" Those that did open, felt let down, although there were plenty of customers which made their opening worth while.

- Enterprise has a lot to do with success in business, and I called in to see Chris Woodfine who operates the ice cream parlour in Pickering's Market Place. Always one to try something new, and whatever he does he does right, so when he recently applied to put tables and chairs outside his parlour, and rightly got permission, the very posh tables and chairs, with rope barrier around were very smartly in place, and equally as smartly filled with customers. I was delighted to see this because much thought and effort had gone into his idea, and where else can you get that lovely soft ice cream? It's worth a trip to Pickering!

- Definition. "A conference is a gathering of important people who singly can do nothing, but together can decide that nothing can be done." Fred Allen (1894-1957) US humourist.

Updated: 12:18 Thursday, August 16, 2001