Portents and Signs....

...remember 'gazumping'? That rather nasty habit some greedy people had of bumping up the sale price of their house at the last minute, in the often realised hope that the buyer would pay more?

Particularly effective tactic if two or more buyers were chasing the same property - robbing Peter or robbing Paul.

Well, now we are back to its fell opposite. Two folk I know have just been 'gazundered' - the purchaser turning up at the solicitor to exchange contracts, then suddenly announcing that they are not prepared, willing or able to pay the full and agreed asking price and would the vendor kindly consider taking a significantly lower sum?

Poor Nick the News has thus become the news. We all knew some time back he was slipping away. Stock reduced to its bare essentials, if that, and a grim look on the fellow's face most the time. Little directly would or could be said, though where he chose to confide the confidant would hear of slashed margins and ever-increasing debt.

Then came the inevitable 'For Sale' sign. A positive move in itself for the man: tried that, hasn't worked, cut losses and move on. We all sympathised and also wondered and worried what would take its place. Another curry house we fretted? Not that a curry house or two in a small country village is in any way a bad thing.

But when three, four or more such emporia are taking over from butchers, bakers, candlestick-makers and the like, one is rightly concerned for the overall balance of the place, not to mention the local availability of ordinary wares and produce other than masala and chips!

The deal was due to be struck this week. But now has not been. Purchasers duly announced they were some £40k shy of the asking price and was that any good? Well, no it wasn't of course. Being shafted that way rarely is.

Popped in today for daily paper and regular chat about the world and its woes. "All the fight's gone out of me Reverend," he said. "I'm just empty inside now."

I really fear he does not know how - or much worse whether - to carry on. Grown men aren't supposed to cry, this we know. But I have shed a tear or several for him tonight. A form of prayer. "De profundis clamavi ad te...." the Psalmist cried. And the Lord answered. In this is our hope.