Possibly the biggest news story of the year and the Japanese printed press were unable to take advantage of what would certainly have been increased sales. Why? Every month, one day is designated a newspaper holiday. Yup, yesterday was it. No morning paper for the world's biggest newspaper industry. In the past I've been told this was to give the delivery boys a holiday. If that is true, as an ex-paperboy, I have to say it warms the cockles.
Posted by Joe at December 16, 2003 09:33 AMAh, those cold dank mornings, I remember them well.
Posted by: martin at December 16, 2003 11:15 AMDo you particularly remember Sundays? :+(
Posted by: Joe at December 16, 2003 12:54 PMIt is the Mon-to-Sat paper round that stands out - the early rise, the all-consuming darkness, the bitter cold, newsprint smeared on hands and clothes, the constant moaning of the news agent owner and worst of all the rabid hounds waiting in every other drive way. Compared to that the leisurely Sunday round (taken as a career leap to get away from the daily round) done in daylight with a cart packing a radio tuned to Noel Edmunds was luxury.
Posted by: martin at December 16, 2003 01:29 PM> the constant moaning of the news agent owner
This one used to piss me off no end. I used to read all the papers I delivered and the illiterate git didn't like that.
> Compared to that the leisurely
> Sunday round ... done in daylight with a cart
What? I obviously did my round in a Victorian time warp. Heaviest round of the week and still dark, dank, cold and in a bag!
> all the rabid hounds waiting
F$#*`"#$ bastards! And people wonder why I'm scared of dogs!
Posted by: Joe at December 16, 2003 01:47 PMTwo different jobs in the shires, old boy. The Sunday round was massive (not just in the number of houses but the sheer number of papers [with Sunday mags]taken by each house) hence the cart. And as there was no school on Sunday, a leisurely start was not going to be avoided!
Posted by: martin at December 16, 2003 02:29 PMJoe, in the bag? You started young didn't you?
Posted by: DJ at December 16, 2003 02:41 PM8+)
Posted by: Joe at December 16, 2003 02:47 PMAye, lad, and what bags they were - none of your waterproof, easy-to-clean plastic... oh, no, thick canvas that soaked up every drop of rain (and let me tell ya, it rains in the UK) and reeked of newsprint.
Posted by: martin at December 16, 2003 02:59 PM