[Margaret Pilkington]

Right Rob......getting rid of religion.....religion is the basis of morality, ethics and law.
You are right when you say that it is beyond you to get rid of religion.
And if you get rid of religion what will take its place?
As for my comment on the world being a better place(or my bit of it) back when the shops closed midweek and on a Saturday afternoon......that has been taken out of context.
What was meant by that(but completely escaped you - maybe it was the way I put it) is that back then there was a gentler pace of life....and life seemed less complicated.
Perhaps you had to live it to understand what I meant.

Yes the shops do have a diversity of staff so,it should, theoretically at least, be easy to get hands to man the pumps on a religious holiday......I have been there.....and believe me even though Muslims do not celebrate our Christmas.....none of them were keen to work it.

Shopping can be done now 24 hrs a day...online. And you can shop in person every day of the year except Christmas Day and Easter Day.......and even on those days you can usually find a spar or other convenience store open.....so really, there is not much in the way of restriction.