Buy a poppy - but what about elf n'safey?

I am a reluctant poppy purchaser for reasons that i have discussed here but wandering into the Co-Op in my father's village of Shipston a little old lady stood outside offering me the chance to buy. As you would expect, here in the Warwickshire countryside, she was silent and dignified and with her tray looking rather too full I popped a quid in the tin and picked up a poppy.

"Do you want a pin?" she said and I mumbled yes and went to select one. " I must warn you that the pins are sharp" she added. Thinking that the Pope is a Catholic I looked at her rather blankly and she explained that it was all about Health & Safety and that she was now obliged by law to warn me.

I do wonder how we managed to fight two world wars without such an all encompassing Health & Safety culture to keep us all safe? It is a miracle.