Tied in with what we all recognise as the spreading, controlling, irritatation of the nanny state in just about everything we do, is the added bonus of having to pay for it ... through the nose!

Almost every week we hear that we are going to have to pay more for this and more for that - and we stand by as services and provisions are cut or restricted. Living in this country is no fun any more - is it any surprise that people are flocking to the sunshine of the continent and even further afield?

I think it would be a very interesting statistic to indentify - ie. the number of good middle class, reliable and regular, taxpayers that have left the country or are planning to.

Technology is such that people don't have to live here and put up with all the bureaucracy and congestion, they can do it from a sun-drenched varanda.

I think the effect of the post office closures is insidious - the main people to be put out are the elderly, vulnerable and infirm. It is these people who will have to travel to centralised post offices to get their pensions, benefits and stamps.

I have a plan for when I retire - if it not soon and to the sunshine of Italy - during the winters I will use my free bus pass to travel the country - just look at how much I could save on heating and lighting at home! I knew there had to be a decent benefit somewhere...