Rain, Mud and Cancer

Pulling over to fill up on the A 303 on the 24th June I decided I should get a bite to eat. I needed sustenance after paying the 99p per litre for the diesel in my car. I went into the shop thinking I would get a sandwich and a bottle of water.

It is an odd thing, how accustomed we have become, to paying through the nose. Since when did it become acceptable to us to pay £3.00 for two pieces of bread and some chicken with mayonnaise in it? And when, pray, did a litre of water that has been falling freely from the sky, cost more than the diesel that I had just bemoaned? If diesel or petrol were to fall from the sky would water be cheaper?

It certainly put the price of fuel in a better perspective, when you think that it has to be drilled and piped and refined. Then transported and stored to be transported, again, and sold. Surely the water industry is not as complicated. It would appear we Brits are complaining about the wrong things, but perhaps that is us all over.

I did not pay for the sandwich and water but instead thought that it must surely be better value if I popped next door to the Little Chef. I ordered the Olympic breakfast and a mug of tea. I was unaware that it was called the Olympic breakfast, not because of its size, but because it would take 4 years to turn up and only if your table had been successful in its bid. Still at £7.00 I thought it was better value than a litre of God’s water and the Golden Goose with mayo.

The nice lady brought me my tea and it has to be said, it was the best tea I have been served in a roadside cafe anywhere. Whether this is geographical location and local water or whether this is the norm for the Little Thief I have no idea, as sadly, I have not sampled the delights of these eateries in other parts of the road network.

I had finished my tea when the toast turned up, and although I was realising that my meal was to be served in relay, to keep with the Olympic theme; I was in no hurry. While I waited to see if I was to receive my bacon next before I had the beans, it gave me opportunity to survey my surroundings.