It's no joke (From Barry And District News)

It's no joke

ON SUNDAY last, November 17, I noticed a replica fire engine.

The price label stated £99.99.

It occurred to me to wonder whether, in the course of the next few weeks, the price might be revised with an increase of some 15 percent to £115, though rumours of a much larger increase, to say £140, now seem to have been scotched.

Meanwhile, I wonder what the price of a scaled-down Green Goddess would be.

I would not offer tuppence, because of their limited capability.

Though I write this without any disrespect towards those who would have to use these "toy" fire engines.

What happens to these famous Green Goddesses between firemen's strikes every twenty-five years or so?

Are they ever used more routinely by the military themselves, and if so do they not deserve up-dated equipment?

But there seemed a kind of humorous incongruity in the whole episode, wit and humour apparently depending on the detection of such incongruity.

But any further and more lengthy firemens' (sorry - fire fighters') strikes would not at all be a joke of course.

I admire the firefighters and they deserve a decent income.

Though the recent touch of greater realism from their union leader was probably appropriate.

Michael O'Neill Railway Terrace Penarth