Published at 11:09, Thursday, 27 October 2011

I READ in a newspaper article that the average person in this country says the word ‘sorry’ eight times a day.

It went on to say that this is 204,536 times if you live to the average three score years and ten.

I have often thought to myself that Whitehaven folk, on the whole qualify for this. We are a polite lot really.

On our weekly, or should I say daily perambulation through Morrisons supermarket, someone is sure to say sorry if they accidentally and ever so lightly skim their trolley against ours.

Also one rarely takes something from the shelves or out of the freezers close to another person doing the same thing without both saying ‘sorry’.

Then as you continue your journey through the town people only need to cross a few feet in front of your path to elicit a heartfelt ‘sorry’ from them. I’m sure some folk would say sorry for bumping into a lamp post.

In a way I suppose we should not wish it to be otherwise, because to concede our fault in small matters makes for good manners and civility in every day life.

Saying sorry in married life is absolutely de riguer, especially if letting the milk boil over the stove is a breakfast-time failing or allowing the porridge to stick to the bottom of the pan. I could go on but won’t, except to say my heartfelt expression of the word sorry are said every night to God for all the things I should have done that day and didn’t and for all the things I did but should not have done. And that’s quite a long list!

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk