GOING on holiday in this country can be a frustrating experience.

Mick took his family up to the Lake District, driving for five hours out of sunny Horsham to arrive in Ambleside where the temperature was about ten degrees lower.

It was then a case of watching the weather forecast for the seven days to see that the South-East was remaining hot and sunny.

After a week of rain, wind and cold (fleece weather at times!) it was a return trip to Sussex that included a 90 minute hold-up on the M25.

It was noticeable that the further south the car got the warmer it got.

So for next year’s hols the Miles family might just stay in the back garden.

Mick noticed a news item from a ‘London correspondent’ writing on a New Zealand paper’s website about the recent troubles at airports such as Gatwick.

The woman felt that ‘these Poms’ are a funny old lot.

Apparently, the enormity of the United Kingdom being on Critical Alert passed us by, especially shoppers in Horsham.

As well as not realising which county she was in (she said Horsham was in Surrey) the writer also did not seem to realise that this ability not to panic is something to be applauded not criticised.

NUMEROUS press releases drop on Mick’s desk, the majority of which have no relevance and are quickly filed in the bin.

However, there are the occasional ones that catch the eye as being unusual.

One such was a survey of 1,000 people to see which advertising jingles they could remember.

As with many such press releases the end result is that they provide more questions and than answers.

The following is the ‘recognition list’ but only some have the date when they were first aired.

And a big question is ‘why weren’t people questioned about recent jingles?’

To get down to the facts as given, of the 1,000 people questioned over half (53 per cent), could remember the Heinz jingle “A million housewives everyday, pick up a tin of beans and say ‘Beanz, Meanz, Heinz’ (1967).”

L’Oreal - 52%

Because I’m worth it - 1967

Mars - 51% recall

A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play - 1965

Orange - 50% recall

The future’s bright, the future’s orange - 1996

Audi - 50% recall

Vorsprung durch technik - 1984

Terry’s orange - 47% recall

They’re not Terry’s, they’re mine

Carlsberg - 44% recall

Probably the best lager in the world - 1973

Nike - 43% recall

Just do it - 1988

Penguin - 41%

Ppppppppick up a packet of Penguins

Pepsi - 39% recall

Lipsmakin’, thirstquenchin’, acetastin’ etc - 1973

American Express - 37% recall

Don’t leave home without it - 1975

White’s lemonade - 29% recall

R White’s lemonade, I’m a secret lemonade drinker

Milk Tray - 24% recall

And all because the lady loves Milk Tray - 1968

Flake - 19% recall

Only the crumbliest, flakiest chocolate, tastes like chocolate never tasted before

Playtex Bra - 11% recall - 1960s

Lifts and separates

HORSHAM has a rubbish problem – literally.

The fine and often ignored hard work of council workers is made doubly difficult by the good folk of Horsham and its visitors.

After a weekend of sunny weather, the park has plenty of rubbish blowing about.

And don’t get Mick started about the chewing gum on the streets.

The district council is attempting to eradicate the latter problem, but the streets are still a patchwork of gum.

Cigarette butts are also a source of concern.

It is true that at least they break down and disappear, eventually.

But until they do the streets are full of fag ends.

Having nothing better to do one morning, Mick counted the number of cigarette ends he saw in West Street from the Shelley fountain up to Lloyds just on one side of the precinct.

This was far from an accurate measure, but he still managed to spot 70 of them – just a microcosm of the mess.

The simple fact is that the problem doesn’t lie with the people charged with clearing up the mess, it is with those creating it.

Perhaps we ought to follow Edinburgh’s lead who charge people something like £50 for dropping litter and have wardens eagerly ready to nab you for any infringement!

THE DAYS of the corner shop seemed well and truly numbered. I don’t mean the small stores incorporating a newsagents which are hanging on grimly.

What I’m referring to are those numerous little shops tucked away in streets that were so useful and handy.

There were those that sold cookers or fridges or other electrical goods. Going back even further there were the sweet shops – a treasure trove of delights.

Some Horsham stalwarts will remember the odd greengrocers, butchers and there was even a stamp shop in the west of the town.

Virtually all have folded and been turned into homes.

You can tell them in the older parts of the town. They are the houses with strange large windows that used to be shopfronts.

I’m old enough to remember those heady days when such shops abounded.

The owners were knowledgeable and friendly and knew all the gossip.

Even in town centres shops have closed due to competition from the big superstores.

Is this just whingeing from someone who has his head in the sand?

Or is fair competition a bad thing?

People want choice – just look at the mass of people milling round on market days around the Horsham district.

Mick Miles - the County Times' long-standing writer - is now on horshamtoday. If you have any comments on any articles send them in.

WITHOUT really making a conscious decision, Mick has been helping the fundraising efforts of various charities, recently.
The comparatively new Y Centre, in Horsham's London Road, has particularly been the recipient of Mick's hard-earned cash.
On Sunday, he was persuaded to stroll, in the rain, to Vale Drive, Horsham, for an 'open garden' type event.
While supping a cup of tea and eating a slice of an excellent chocolate cake, Mick was able to view the garden  all for £1.50 which went to the Y Centre.
He had read about the event the previous week while supping another cup of tea and a slice of cake at the Centre itself, a superbly modern and attractive building with a good café.
The week before saw Mick strolling round the countryside for a fundraiser to help Epilepsy Action. This was rounded off with an excellent plateful of cake and sandwiches and, yes another cup of tea.
Recently, he and Mrs Miles were part of a quiz team helping Cancer Research. What makes this twice a year event special is the accompanying fish and chip supper.
Mick is currently in training for the Barns Green Half Marathon, but he may have to stop the charity fundraisers - he's putting on too much weight!