Courtesy

In an article in the Observer on Sunday, Radio 1 DJ Nihal Arthanayake suggested that it wouldn't hurt too much if the world became a little more courteous. I love him. Having walked past two people in the street who I knew well yesterday, one texting, the other face-down carrying shopping and both too distracted to see me, I noticed once again how few people seek eye contact, smiles or just a brief conversation to pass the time. An unusual exception to this was a chat with a man waiting in line with me at the Tescos check-out concerning the red wine and chocolate he was planning to consume that night. It didn't hurt either of us and just for a moment a meeting of minds took place and I realised that if I ever bumped into him again I might ask how he was. I hope I do.

The article finished with a suggestion that this week it would be good to find out the name of the person who sold you the newspaper and ask how they are. There's a TV programme about it on Channel 4 tonight at a quarter past midnight (so technically tomorrow morning if you care) including film of the author's three evenings working in a Costcutter and recording all the rude customers. Many of them were very happy for the footage of their rudeness to be shown and anxious to know when so they wouldn't miss it, apparently. 'Hey folks I'm on the tele being really rude to a shop assistant, how cool is that?'

So this blog's for Jaz, the patient and friendly owner of my local newsagents. He's well.