Yesterday was signing on day. My fortnightly ritual has now changed from late in the afternoon to first thing in the morning, except that no-one seems entirely sure when. I approached the reception and handed them my booklet. The young man glanced at it and very helpfully told me to go away and come back in half an hour. Then he noticed some other detail on the page and looked confused.

"Wait here please."

Wait? At a dole queue? Thats novel....

Initiative of the Week

It seems our security concious land is about to train store managers in anti-terrorist techniques. Wow. I'd better be careful the next time I get shoddy service at the till. Sharp suited operators abseiling down ropes with submachine guns and wrestling me to the floor, yelling "Don't Move!".

Come on mate, all I want is a plastic bag.