i can't help marvelling at how von always gets on with strangers with brazen and breezy confidence. that's something i have not yet learnt to do. all i can manage is meekness and flustered politeness and in return i get only patronisation and rudeness. which is why i depend on other people to threaten drycleaners and return mistake buys for me. darryl dear i hope you're good at this sort of thing for you will be much called upon in the next year to shake fists at shopkeepers and ward off my persecuters.