Last month I emailed the city council and requested a black recycling box, because my flat didn't have one when I moved in and I'd got tired of taking stuff to the supermarket bottle bank. They said they'd deliver one, but I heard nothing further from them.

I mailed them back today and asked what had happened. They said they'd definitely left one outside my door, so someone must have walked off with it.

I wondered out loud, in the office, why anyone would bother to steal something you could get free of charge anyway by writing to the council. Someone said that perhaps it was more hassle to do it that way. Well, yes it is actually, because some blighter is stealing the things! But I'm sure that's circular reasoning, somehow. Arrgh.

They said they'd deliver me another one. I hope it stays put this time.