Well, Bill Warren, our returned barman, certainly put his foot in it.  After telling the brewers he was my eldest son and that he couldn't go back to the motel because of a family quarrel, fate decided to pay him back!  The Bill and Meg reunion meeting with Mr Murray from the brewers, and Sandy gave me one of my biggest laughs for years ... not to mention a few more grey hairs!  Seriously, if there was ever a case of 'little white lies finding you out', this must have been it.  I suppose one shouldn't really moralise about something which, after all, has had a happy ending, but it only goes to show what terrible things can and do happen as a result of telling the most inoffensive fib.  After one lie, you generally have to tell ten more and that's when you start to need a good memory.  I know ... I've done it myself, but I certainly would not recommend the consequences.

 

Bill tells me he's quite delighted with the new bar.  I think the extent of the facelift took him a bit by surprise and without doubt it will make his job one hundred per cent more pleasant.  Even so, I find it difficult to make Bill out.  He's one of those people whose actions are hard to predict and just how long he's likely to stay with us this time, lord only knows.

 

We had a visit from the local constabulary today.  Not to arrest anyone, thank goodness, but to give out a warning about the rising level of thefts in the area.  Apparently, hotels and motels have been getting more than their fair share of attention from the light-fingered gentlemen of late and the police suggested we have our security systems checked.  Fortunately, they have their own expert on these matters and he'll be arriving in a day or two to take a look and give advice where needed.  They tell me the free inspection service is open to anyone and I must say it sounds a very good idea.  Not only does it hopefully prevent valuables being stolen ... it also of course cuts down the amount of crimes being committed.

 

Talking of safety, it was heartening indeed to read of the success of Mr Jimmy Saville's 'clunk-click' car safety belt campaign.  The statistics I had in my paper estimated that car accident deaths have fallen by about eight per cent in just one year, not to mention a huge reduction in serious injuries.  It's marvellous that just one man can still do so much to help others and I have to confess he has my utmost admiration.  That's why it makes me all the more upset to see motorists driving along without using their belts.  As Hugh said, it's all very well to be careless about your life, but it doesn't do a lot for those you leave behind. 

 

I shudder to think how much it's all going to cost, but I've decided to pop out to Australia to see Hugh.  The pity is that I'll only be able to stay a few weeks.  I mean, just how much of a country the size of Australia will I be able to see in that short time?  Never mind, any visit is a worthwhile one and if what Hugh tells me is anything to go by, I should have a quite fascinating time.  I've always said that, whenever possible, one should seize the opportunity to go travelling.  It's too easy to stick in one spot all the time and I was never one to enjoy living a humdrum life.