Hauliers

What is it about those big firms of hauliers that send great big lorryloads of stuff all over the place? Are their distinctive names compulsory?

In England we have Eddie Stobart, in his distinctive narrowboat-type colours. I can picture big, butch, bearded Eddie down the pub, Michelle tattooed on his arm, buying a round of drinks, his big truck parked outside.

And of course the other one is the wonderfully-named Prestons of Potto. For a long time I thought it must be Pottos of Preston, but oh no, Potto is a North Yorkshire village, consisting mainly of a big truck depot, apparently. I once dreamed a whole poem about Prestons of Potto.

In France they have Norbert Dentressangle. We passed old Norbert’s trucks everywhere. And sometimes they passed us. Norbert Dentressangle! Fantastic!