For years now, I have become used to the phenomenon of occasionally coming across “temporary traffic lights” which have been placed each side of some bit of road works. You know the ones. They stay red for about five minutes so that you can read a book or admire the workmen having their teabreak, and then they change green [the lights, not the workmen] just about long enough to get in gear before changing red again.

I used to come across these a few times a year.

Now, suddenly they are everywhere. I did one shortish journey recently and had to go through eight sets. It was handy as I was able to catch up on my reading. Got through quite a few chapters on that one journey. I have found one road out of my area that is still light free, but I suppose it is only a matter of time…

I wrote to the local County Council to thank them for the lights, saying that it was nice to be able to relax for a five minute break every couple of miles. They obviously appreciated this, as they promptly gave me my own set. No kidding! Two days later, they errected temporary traffic lights each side of the entrance to my house and started digging holes. Now that is service.

The only problem is that I can’t leave my house now, so my reading is falling behind.