Peter Rhodes: Ten thousand pounds for every old soldier?

A READER asks when he should start wearing his remembrance poppy. I am old-fashioned. I wear mine for about a week leading up to Remembrance Day or Armistice Day, whichever comes later. But as every newsreader, politician and celebrity seems determined to be the first to show off his or her compassion, and no-one wants to be left behind, there is a rush to be first. Scottish MPs were seen wearing them last Thursday, for goodness' sake.

HARRUMPH. I also despise those customised and bejewelled poppies that are so fashionable. The plain paper poppy, worn by princes and peasants alike, symbolises democracy and equality of sacrifice. Poppy-bling is poppycock.

WHICH leads inevitably on to one of the bees in my bonnet, the vast number and duplication of military charities. No-one knows how many there are but a Charity Commission spokesman told me a few years ago it was "at least 5,000." Apart from the big national charities, the army, navy and air force all have their own benevolent funds and every regiment, existing or defunct, has its own trustees and bank balance. Many were created so long ago that all their war veterans have died. The major charities know they would be more effective if they pooled their resources but nothing happens. And because the only time when this issue is topical is as Remembrance Day approaches, any criticism is regarded as in poor taste. So we keep our heads down, buy our poppies and wear them with pride, and just a little frustration.

IF the big charities sold their properties and pooled their assets, what sort of lump sum could they pay in gratitude and appreciation to the dwindling band of survivors of the Second World War? I bet they could pay the old warriors £10,000 each and not even notice it.

TONY Blair launches yet another attempt to reverse the vote to leave the EU. This is excellent news. If you feel strongly about any issue, it is always good to know Toxic Tony is on the other side.

AVIATION evolves much faster than airports. In the 13 years after the Wright Brothers patented the first flying machine in 1906, aircraft progressed from shaky stringbags to twin-engined bombers capable of flying the Atlantic. A third runway at Heathrow was first discussed in 2003. Thirteen years later we are still talking about it.

I HAVE defamed the European Union. I suggested a few days ago that the European Parliament packs its bags, files, computers and interpreters and treks between Brussels and Strasbourg every week. This ritual and ruinously expensive uprooting actually happens once a month. I mean, weekly would be bonkers, right?

CONTINUING the recent theme of inflation, a reader on a pension calculates that, in order to buy the house he has occupied for 49 years today, he would have to be a first-time buyer earning £60,000 a year.

MORE to the point, he says, when he first paid to watch Wolves over 60 years ago, his hobby consumed about one-fiftieth of his salary. To get similar value in the Premier League today he would need to earn £90,000. He asks: "Has the football improved that much?" Discuss.