A few days ago, some men from the local fire brigade came by appointment to change my smoke alarms, which were over 20 years old. They do this as a free service to old and disabled people; I suppose it is cheaper for them in the long run than having to deal with a lot of fires. To my amusement, three men turned up in a fire engine. Maybe this was their way of reassuring me that they were pukka firemen and not scamsters. They were charming people and gave me some useful advice as well as changing the alarms.

This morning, I received a letter dated 24th June informing me that I would receive a visit on 30th June. It must have got stuck in the post somewhere. Fortunately I had put the date in my diary when I made the appointment so I didn't actually require a confirmatory letter. It contained the following remarkable paragraphs:
Since when have firemen, of all people, required a "safe working environment"? I had a lovely vision of firemen hesitating outside a burning building because they require a smoke-free atmosphere before they can proceed.

When I was young my Grandmother used to say, "What is the world coming to?" much to my amusement. And it's still going on.
What is the world coming to?

Your grandmother sounds very much like my mother!

btw they did give me one useful piece of advice which I am happy to pass on. If you are trapped in your bedroom by a fire, close the door, open the window, and shout "Fire!" as loudly as possible. Do not shout "Help!" People who hear a woman screaming "Help!" are liable to think that she is being beaten up by her husband or boyfriend and they will prefer to stay out of it.

I bet this clause in the letter came from just one a**hole who thought it would be funny to blow cigarette smoke in the face of the guy installing the alarm.

They'd don their breathing apparatus and then go in