Reflections

My late father lived from 1923 to 2013 and witnessed most of the great events of the twentieth and early twenty first century.

We had many fascinating conversations and I wish I had preserved his thoughts on these events, notably the Second World War.

However, when I asked him to name life-changing inventions, he said he could not think of too many but came up with television.

If I was asked to name inventions that had materially altered people’s lives in my lifetime I would cite the mobile phone and internet.

I sometimes make a mental note of – when I travel – the number of people either on their phone or using it. I would think it’s two out of three.

Whole industries like betting or travel have changed as a result of the new technology.

The last few weeks I was thinking about motor car transport. Time was when the black cab – and driver that did the Knowledge – was secure in his monopoly of urban transport.

Now there are any number of rivals feeding and thriving off the new technology. However, two recent examples convinced me that the new kids on the taxi rank are not always that capable.

On a drive by Uber from south London to Brighton on Sunday, despite my directions, the driver took completely the wrong turn and then tried to back up a slip-way until a police office reproached her.

She then complained I was stressing her.

I realised that if I was to get home any further discussion on the point was fruitless and gave calm directions … and then the lowest rating.

Yesterday on leaving my dentist in Harley St at 5.15 pm I was anxious to get to Victoria a soon as possible.

I hailed a black cab and the driver weaved through the traffic to get me there to catch an earlier train.

I was only too pleased to give him a generous tip.

Needless to say, the lady opposite me on the train, whom I suspect was high up in the Green political world, was on the phone most of the journey.

She made such remarks as “This is what the UK needs”.

I felt irritated as I had better things to do than to listen to her conversation. In making my way to the bus on arrival I was stopped by a Labour canvasser and then Caroline Lucas who were doing last minute electioneering.

It’s supposed to be one of those life-changing elections, but in comparison doubtless my father would have alluded to 1945 when Winston Churchill was defeated and the whole direction of modern Britain changed.