NOW enjoying the fruits of retirement, I have time to look back on my working years.

Once, when at a low ebb, I joined the direct-selling “commission only” brigade.

A canvasser would call, then the salesmen follow up. Thankfully, this practice is fading, and it has been on Watchdog lately.

Generally, the salesman has to provide his own car and pay all his own fuel costs. A friend emptied his own bank account by the time he got the hang of it and made a sale.

Another companion was based in Bradford. They sent him to Preston and told him to phone in after that appointment.

Then he had to drive to North Wales. He didn’t make a sale at either place, so phoned back to head office.

“We’ve just secured a good appointment for you in Hull for 7.30pm this evening”, they said.

“Yes, and have you secured me a helicopter as well?”, he replied.

That’s the last the company heard from him!

Tom Appleton, Barleyfields Road, Wetherby.