I was going to post a blog about the news last week that nearly half of all adults in this country have the numeracy skills or maths ability of an 11 year old. I was then going to comment that that is only part of the story and that a significant proportion of the populace can barely read, compose a letter with any grammatical accuracy and have difficulty in communicating with their fellows save by text.

I was going to say that the idiots responsible for our education system (those in charge of the curriculum rather than the poor teachers who have no choice but to teach it) have failed at least the last two generations, ignoring completely the lessons of their predecessors who knew only too well the value of teaching the three Rs (reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic). Then I thought, it’s too depressing and we know all this anyway; so why waste my time and yours by blogging about it?!

So, I decided to comment instead on the wonderful news contained in yesterday’s Sunday Times concerning the micropub revolution. Well, it’s not quite a revolution yet but it is at least a movement in the right direction and a real hope that pubs can become pubs once again. In micropubs only proper (real) ale will be sold, lager will certainly not and conversation amongst customers will be encouraged.

Certain micropub owners have apparently banned all sorts of entertainment, proscribed fruit machines and other noisy distractions and have made clear to all customers that the use of mobile phones will not be tolerated. One owner imposes fines on mobile phone users, the proceeds going to charity, and another has even gone so far as to confiscate the phones and nail them to the wall. How good is that?

Imagine going to a pub where they only sell traditional English bitter and people actually converse with (rather than shout at) one another. Goodness me, whatever next, honest politicians? Now I am being silly!