God's own Bank

At various places in the Yorkshire Dales one comes across tree stumps embedded with coins, usually of the 1 or 2p variety. These are widely believed to be wish trees and that the coins are votive offerings to the local deity or whatever. There is such a tree, for instance, at Janet's Foss where the coins have been left as offerings to Jennet the local Queen of the fairies who lives in the cave behind the waterfall. The one that I have photographed is to be found near Ingleton.

This is, of course, all total nonsense. In reality, the trees are branches of The Tykes' Bank PLC. Like all other banks the rate of interest paid is nowt, or near enough to nowt. However, unlike other banks, The Tykes' Bank is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They also have the advantage that that they have no investment bankers employed to throw away your money. You can also take out your savings at any time, without penalty, and with no forms to fill in. You just need to remember to bring your pliers with you when making a withdrawal.

For those left wondering, Tyke is the name given to people from Yorkshire, and foss is the old Norse word for waterfall.