Publicly funded facilities can come and go in the blink of an eye and I know here locally in Paulton the cafe was closed for some time. It has now reopened with a caring and proud manager and a young girl who is assisting him. There was several people in the cafe when I arrived at about 11:00 a.m., and it did appear to double as a community centre with one woman going round to two adjacent tables and inquiring after the health of people there. This is exactly what a community should be like.

I ordered a latte. It arrived a few minutes later and was prepared very well. It was hot so the cup had been warmed beforehand. Local facilities like this make a great difference. They put a soul into the middle of a small community as well as give Lonely People the opportunity to come and have a chat with one or two. Long may these types of institution live. They will certainly get my custom when I am passing.

The library section, run by volunteers, is by some miracle still open. It has fewer books than I have at home but the selection is good and has emphasis on romantic novels and children’s books.

I take after my father who frequently read books. The first books I read were Winnie the Pooh by A A Milne and comics such as Dan Dare and Beano. I have recently resolved to spend more time reading and less on the computer, beguiling though the latter is.