OH DEARY dear. I think that Mr H is turning into a bit of an anal retentive curmudgeon. It seems to be a condition that happens to a man when he gets his first fuel allowance and simultaneously enters the drug-fest world of free prescriptions at the age of 60.

Victoria Hawkins

OH DEARY dear. I think that Mr H is turning into a bit of an anal retentive curmudgeon. It seems to be a condition that happens to a man when he gets his first fuel allowance and simultaneously enters the drug-fest world of free prescriptions at the age of 60.

Once upon a time these chaps used to talk about the phwoar factor of birds, the latest 'drop-head', politics etc. Now they are discussing cookery courses, (H attended his first a few weeks back), then there's the state of their lawns and the shortcomings of a trip to the tip. But ever since some wag told him about this website called 'fix my street', he's become an homme with a mission and something of a veritable vigilante. The site invites one and all to report, view and discuss local problems in their neighbourhoods - such as graffiti, fly tipping (another real bugbear of his), broken paving, potholes etc. And, of course, broken street lights.

This, in turn, led him to the local council website itself where, gratifyingly, he's been able to freely report on such shortcomings. Now he's entered Stage II and is ringing them up in person. One of the objects of his obsession is the status (permanently dark) of the light on lamppost number 1234 (a made up number to protect its anonymity) - it's been bust since last August.

Actually if you quiz him, I'd lay good money on the man knowing the numbers of every lamppost in the two streets within 750 yards of our home. Apart from 1234, he's more than irritated that the council recently spent a shedload of money putting in all these smart new lights fore and aft. However when they got to our rear entrance they moved the one that used to light our back passage 15 metres down the road, so it is now plunged into darkness. The next light along is 200 metres away and he's not happy.

Anyway the man at council is, as they say, looking into it. They might consider rectifying it - but not until 2009. As for 1234, worse to come, there may be an issue with Health & Safety to actually replace the bulb as it shares a pole with the electricity wire, so they'll have to get a different department involved. It should keep him fuming for months.