COUNCIL officers are usually quite prompt in responding to my queries.

When they are not, I am patient. I have learned that replies to letters are like kisses: if they are not given freely, they're not worth having.

However, recent experience convinces me that York is at the cutting edge of slow motion correspondence.

A little after 1pm on January 14 I presented a letter at reception with the earnest request that it might be delivered as soon as possible.

I later learned, from reliable sources close to the officer concerned, that my letter did not reach his desk until late morning of January 26. Excluding evenings and weekends, when I assume motion to have been zero, the average speed of delivery of my letter must have been within the range .000038/000049mph. Amazing!

Posties walk on... and despair.

William Dixon Smith,

Welland Rise, Acomb, York.

Updated: 10:15 Saturday, February 12, 2005