With the concept of a worker being happy clearly so
distant from our times, which are characterised by falling real wages, zero-hour
contracts, and pension funds depleted by greedy company owners and shareholders,
it`s little wonder Lawrence Scott has difficulties comprehending Postman Pat`s
contentment (Why was Postman Pat so happy?9th September,2016).
It must not be forgotten that Pat will have felt
none of the insecurity associated with impending privatisation and the quest for
greater "efficiency", and, whilst climate change had reached Greendale, the news
that "there is no such thing as society" clearly had not. A mid-round tea break
was always on offer at Thompson Ground, repairs would always be attended to by
Ted Glen, and summers would always be marked, not only by Pat`s bowling
exploits for Greendale`s cricket team, but by the generosity of Mrs Hubbard with
her home-made rhubarb wine. His son Julian was destined for the
non-selective community comprehensive, where teacher shortages were unheard of,
as property prices had not yet been inflated by silly City money, and teacher
salaries had not been held down year after year by austerity-obsessed
governments. There was no threat of closure of the post office in Pencaster`s
high street, let alone the one run by Mrs Goggins in Greendale.
It`s difficult to imagine a children`s book
about the life of a public servant, today, becoming popular; can anyone see children or parents settling down to
a quiet night, after stories abounding with strikes, obscene bonuses,
exploitative private landlords, profit-at-all-costs replacing principle, and a
government dominated by a laissez-faire approach
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