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Letter from Simon
Damp squibs rather than big bangs…....seem to be all that would be allowed if we had the annual bonfire night in Earl Soham this year. Reading through the Church's insurance conditions for fireworks parties; it would appear that everyone attending would need to wear full asbestos oversuits, equipped with total blackout welding masks to protect their eyesight and for good measure the safe viewing distance mandated would require spectators to stand somewhere in Badingham (or Yoxford if rockets were going to be used). In any case we would not be able to have the splendid bonfire that Cyril Calver normally organises for us, resplendent with a whole haystack, perched on a mountain of pallets, liberally doused with 5 gallons of 4 star. I also fear that EU catering regulations require us to have full wash down facilities with segregated sanitised areas for the raw meat, cooked meat, bread and ketchup if we are going to serve food, so there won't even be any cremated sausages served in soggy bread rolls having been dropped in the wet grass and kicked around in the dark this year! So, sadly, bonfire night - along with so many pleasures these days - has been cancelled courtesy of the litigious society. Instead we invite all Connect 4 members to an exciting night toasting marshmallows over tealights - chain mail gauntlets will be provided, though we will require every participant's parents to sign a 16 page disclaimer before taking part. Seriously though, we will be doing something with Connect 4 at Mary's on 7th November - we'll let members know what when we've thought of something exciting... but safe! Some time ago I wrote about this subject when I was scalded by a pool attendant for recklessly and irresponsibly teaching my children how to dive, I suppose it was only inevitable that things would get worse and not better. We do have a long way to go before we catch up with the USA of course. Much of my business is done there and so I need to have public and employers liability, and professional indemnity insurance that covers me for this work. When I got quotes about 10 months ago the majority of companies refused even to quote me for this insurance. Eventually - if I wanted to operate legally - I had to accept the only exorbitant fee I was quoted. Since then there have been additional premium to pay during the policy period until, last week when I was told by the broker that the underwriter was no longer prepared to stand the risk and was cancelling my policy from the date of inception. They are of course going to refund my policy, but where I stand legally I'm not sure. Whilst many people angrily blame the insurance companies for this situation, you may be surprised to learn that I sympathise with the underwriters. After all, they are little more than respectable bookmakers, taking bets on our potential losses, and what were once long shot bets, are rapidly becoming odds on favourites for a payout. Discussing my own situation with the broker, she highlighted the fact that many US businesses are adding specific lines to their profit and loss statements to show losses... and profits, from litigation. Now everyone I talk to about this subject says they agree with me how completely bonkers it is that people are prepared to sue one another at the drop of a hat. Even people who are doing their level best to help people but make a tragic (or sometime trivial) mistake. I wonder how many of them however, when approached by the ambulance chasers might be persuaded that suing was the right thing to do because "these people have got to learn" or "it's only right" or "my emotional loss was worth more that his career" or "someone got to stand up to them"... not for the money of course. Jesus asked:
Simon Nicholls |
