Rural contraction

...and it's a story that might bore you but you don't have to listen, she told me, because she always knew it was going to be like that.

When folk first moved to Paulswell, in the late eighties, West Linton had four, maybe five pubs, a bakery, grocery, newsagent and so on. And a Bank of Scotland.

Over the years we lost most of the pubs - only one remains. The bakery is now a restaurant. This is despite the growth of the village - extra houses, new primary school

The bank, which has only been open two days a week, is now closing for good. Will it become a posh bar and restaurant like the banks that closed in Edinburgh? Unlikely. There will be more money in selling it as a private residence.

The cash machine will go, obviously. You'll be able to get 'Cash Back' at the Co-op when it's open, but the age of cash is coming to a close too. I remember the first 'hole in the wall's getting installed. Will I see the last of them being decommissioned?