Sea birds swooped and dived over the surf and called mewingly to one another.

It has a huge trickledown effect,” said Mr. Cost, who had to lay off four employees because business was slow this year and last.

A curtain lecture is worth all the sermons in the world for teaching the virtues of patience and long-suffering.

“Crunchie?” said Velvet, her face lighting. “I got them this morning.” “On tick still?” “Yes. She was cross but I swore we'd pay by Saturday.” In the gold paper was a chocolate stick. Beneath the chocolate was a sort of honeycomb, crisp and friable, something between biscuit and burnt sugar. Fry's chocolate crunchie.