I HAVE been known to put my foot it in on occasion.

This is not such a time, though, because feet give way tometric in this essay.

It used to be said of some, including yours truly, that given an inch, they’d take a yard, or make amile of it. But times, measures and what Europe dictated have changed things – and us with them – long ago.

We oldies – and, yes, I know I address many of the more senior of the Echo’s wide and diverse readership – have witnessed and been part of so many changes in and around us.

Many such changes may have been for the better, of course, but some continue still to irkme, and, possibly, also others now reading these words.

I remain riled by decimalisation and metrication. I am resentful, still, of dictats and decrees from those who insist all change is for the better and we must do as we are told, or else.

If there were still 240 pence or 20 shillings to the pound – and if the pound were still a note, not a coin – I’d put a bob or two on a bet that lots of folk would agree with me. I might even wager a guinea, if such were still legal tender.

While I’m a bit hot under the collar over all this Euro-style change, what about Fahrenheit, eh?

Remember when we oldies measured and quoted temperatures on this scale, rather than today’s Celsius? The Fahrenheit scale survived through the ages, remember.

Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit was a Polish-born physicist, engineer and glass-blower who invented the temperature scale we knew, used and relied on for generations.

He came up with his brilliant discovery, which became accepted worldwide, nigh-on three centuries ago.

It might seem reasonable for us to assume something we knew, referred to and accepted through several generations would outlive all of us. No such luck.

Politicians, Eurocrats and technocrats told us – no, ordered us – to followCelsius. No wonder some of us have remained hot under the collar.

No wonder some of us would dearly love to be able to turn back the clocks – and not just in autumn.

We’d so much appreciate the chance to relive the wonderful times we have had – and maybe even appreciate some of the many changes for the better that have taken place, too.