1st November 2007

I have just discovered exactly how far civilisation has fallen. I have seen the evidence in front of my own eyes.

I went to Sainsbury's, the way you do, after posting a few packets - I needed bread, that sort of thing, and I was in no rush so I dawdled around looking at the Xmas stuff. On the end of one rack of shelves were some children's toys - dolls, plastic figures, and among this, a rather battered box containing a doll. A doll done up as some sort of fairytale figure. Across the top of this was a tag line - advertising blurb, I suppose, though what it's called properly I have no idea. It's the sort of thing that people in advertising agencies must have conferences about, and I'm betting that this one came up as the topic at the end of a very long session.  The doll, I'm reasonably sure, was a Disney, so perhaps that may explain it, but nevertheless, this doll - a Sleeping Beauty, although in a way this makes this even more mystifying - was described as "Royal Elegance and..."  now what would you think Sleeping Beauty would be? In this day and age?  Royal Elegance and a presence at the Bar..? Royal Elegance and Empathy over the X ray machine?  Royal Elegance and her gold medal Flower Arranging Certificate???

No. Oh no you'd be way way wrong. No this Sleeping Beauty was Royal Elegance and..  Kung Fu Action.   Royal Elegance and Kung Fu Action.  I don't know whether to laugh or cry...