Listening Without Predjudice.

Funny thing they say - 'what goes around, comes around'.

I always thought they were talking about those little kiddies' roundabouts you sometimes find in municipal parks. Of course, that's not what they mean. Whoever they are.

In this instance, I'm referring to my local pub landlord. After several months suffering regular petty theft, he has gone to expense and trouble of installing cameras around his substantial premises, accompanied by hidden microphones. Each night, as he and his wife go to bed, they quickly review the tape of the last shift. "No doubt", he said to me the other weekend, "I'll catch the little tea-leaf now". The staff are aware that they are now being filmed, although they don't know they are also being sonically recorded.

He caught and sacked the Assistant Manager last week. Happy as Larry, he celebrated by going Christmas shopping. He also decided to leave the cameras and mikes installed, as a safeguard against further theft.

Upon his return, and his wife being out shopping, he emptied his wife's presents out onto the bar. Amongst the usual choccies and jewellery, he showed the regulars a large bottle of exclusive perfume he had bought his wife. "Got it half-price" says he with a wink. "but she doesn't need to know that bit - does she?".

I wouldn't have minded being a fly on the wall when his wife reviewed the video tapes that night.

I guess he'll be going out doing a bit more shopping this weekend.

Sergei