Room 101

Today Bob and I will be meeting up with some other retired Baptist Revs and their spouses. Many of us have been friends for years - others are newer to the group. But we usually have some activity [a discussion, visiting speaker, whatever] before we eat our packed lunches and sit and chat together. Today is a visit to "Room 101". In George Orwell's 1984, this was the room where the things most hated were gathered and used to torment people, but somebody decided this could be made into a lighthearted TV show.  That's what we are recreating today - but without Frank Skinner.
I've been asked to be one of the three 'guests' - and present things I'd like banished. Specifically something personal that I absolutely hate, something to banish for the sake of the nation's well-being, and also something I would like to see removed from church life. I will share my first two with you [not the third, that might cause too much disagreement!]

My personal pet hate is Cheap Instant Coffee. I drink 'proper' coffee, made in a cafetiere or filter machine, or a stove top pot. Never powdered stuff dissolved in boiling water. This is not coffee imho! It does not taste like the real thing, and studies have shown that it is possibly not so good for you, due to the presence of acrylamides. Unfortunately people serving coffee to a group often try and save money by having the cheapest jar of this abominable powder, and a mug of teaspoons next to the kettle. "Help yourself!" they say, as if they are offering you the nectar of the gods. 

No Way!! Proper coffee or nothing. And usually this is not a fairly traded product [ok Asda's is Rainforest Alliance, which is supposed to help the wildlife - but it doesn't support the workers] Banish it!

My choice of something to banish 'for the benefit of the nation' is the move towards "contactless/card payments only" situations. 

Yes, cards are useful - but what is wrong with cash? 

No, please don't tell me that it spreads covid, the WHO said so, and you read it in The Times 4 years ago. 

Yes the Times did print that misinformation - but did you also see their subsequent retraction of this mistake, [the WHO never said this] printed on the inside pages in a corner where it wouldn't be noticed? And yet hundreds of trading establishments stopped taking coins and notes immediately, and many have kept up the cashless situation ever since.

And this is making life difficult for many people. Children like Rosie, whose finance is all in pocket money - hard cash. Older people who do not trust credit cards, or internet banking, who feel secure with notes in their wallet. And many people with debt issues, who are working their way to being debt free by reverting to the old system of jars and envelopes to manage their spending each week, and to help them stick to a budget. They do not wanted to be tempted to 'flash the plastic' and run up more debts. For the sake of these people, I want more, not fewer shops and carparks and 'venues' to take real money, please. Banish signs like this one!

What would you send to Room 101, and why?