I returned from Italy late last night expecting to find a copy of the new Independent on Sunday. I was furious with my newsagent and called him this morning to complain. But the phone was answered by a man who told me that the business has changed hands and he knew nothing of my request. I was not really shocked because I knew he was suffering from poor trade, as one-man corner-shop businesses have tended to do for years.
Anyway, the upshot is that I will have to wait a week to say what I think of the single-section Sindy. This delay will obviously upset the Sindy's editor, Tristan Davies, who has sent his staff - well, the few that are left - the following message:
"I'd like to thank each and every one of you for producing a brilliant paper and magazine on Sunday. I appreciate it's the result of long hours and hard work but I hope you'll agree, having seen the package together for the first time, that it's been worth it. It's certainly lived up to my ambitions for the paper, and you only have to look at Peter Wilby's begrudging admiration in The Guardian today to see how well you've done.
"I look forward to the second instalment of Professor Roy Greenslade's excellent blog with interest. Who knows what dizzy heights of blinding insight he might reach now that he has actually seen the paper! Thanks again, Tristan"
