TO coin a perverse phrase, big things lead to small ones. Spectator was intrigued to learn that one of those splendid new double-decker buses recently introduced by Harrogate and District on a local route is soon to be modelled by Corgi, who began with simple toys of cars and vans almost 50 years ago but who have since graduated to making almost perfect scale replicas of chosen subjects.

The model, a mere fraction the size of its subject, will feature a bus plying route 36 between Leeds and Ripon, and for the technically minded it's called the Wright Gemini Eclipse.

Spectator saw one of the colourful full-size examples at the redeveloped Ripon bus station one Sunday evening a month ago and was impressed by its seating, which seemed to approach airliner standard, and its obvious concessions to the disabled and the visually impaired.

Spectator just wishes he could have been more enthusiastic about the so-called bus station, an improvement on the old one but no less basic and soulless, and with no clear reference to route 36 or where you should wait for one of those lovely new buses.

It doesn't help that an apparent misprint in a notice on the doors of the new public toilets gives the impression that they are only open during the night. Unless Spectator was seeing double, which he doubts, it seems that someone can't tell their am from their pm. Check that one out for yourself.

Postal vote poser

IF you haven't posted your vote yet, it's due in on Thursday and you might like to give Royal Mail time to deliver it.

Don't forget to sign it, and get your signature witnessed by "someone who knows you well".

Someone? Anyone? In most cases, a witness to a signature cannot be a spouse or even a relative, so just who comes under the heading "someone"? In this instance, it is "anyone".

As most of the inquiries to the helpdesks have been on that very topic, it might have been a good idea to make it clear on the instructions enclosed with the ballot paper that relatives were valid witnesses.

Sadly, the one post left unfilled in any official body you care to name is that of "common sense executive".

Job opportunity

RICHMOND MP William Hague officially opened the new Middleton Tyas primary school recently. During his speech, he mentioned that the building had experienced no teething troubles and praised the contractors, Hartlepool-based Gus Robinson.

"In fact," he told the builders, "if you can do new security screens at the House of Commons, there's a Mr Blair who might have a job for you."