Standstill on Sunday

England comes to a standstill on Sundays. This can be most cumbersome for those on assignment. Getting out of Birmingham was a chore yesterday morning. Breakfast is served only after 8.30 on weekends (6.30 on other days). If this was not bad enough, the first trainout is only at 8.45 a.m. on Sundays. Taxis charge extra on holidays and in any case they are far to few in number on holidays. (The London Underground train drivers have asked for 500 Pounds extra wages to work on millennium eve).

From the Birmingham hotel to station and from the Manchester station to Old Trafford was the most trying experience. Luckily three Aussies called out from a taxi: ``We have place for one. Anyone for Old Trafford?'' With relief I charged out of the queue and dived into the taxi.

Lesson in history

On Saturday night in Birmingham, a couple of Indian journalists checked into a hotel close to the Edgbaston ground (as the India vs England spilled over). The Sardarji who ran the hotel, Gurbux `George' Singh is a second generation immigrant in Britain. He has been here for close to 40 years. ``In school here I was taught that Britain's greatest contribution to India was uniting it into one country and giving it its roads, railways and ports. I faithfully believed this sincethen.

``However, a few years ago I went to India for the first time. When I said this to some Indians in Delhi, their reply was: `Yes, the roads led to the railway station. The Railway lines led to the port and from the ports the ships swindled this country and took everything to enrich Britain.Now I realise I learnt only the white man's version of history,'' he said with some disgust.