So the Bank of Bermuda is kitting out staff in fancy new togs, apparently in a bid to improve how clients view the bank's services, according to last week's Bermuda Sun.

One of Hester's chums thinks the bank should stick to the basics, having deposited a four figure cheque which failed to show up in his account several days later.

Back he went, brandishing his yellow receipt only for the bank staff to make much about the difference between a "four" and a "nine."

When it was pointed out that the teller should have checked the number against the name on the slip the counter girl did concede he had a point but there was not even a hint of an apology.

Hester's disgruntled friend said: "This is the second time I have paid a cheque and it has gone into someone else's account.

"Still, one day they might deposit one of Ross Perot's cheques into my account. I bet they would apologise to him."

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Hester did not see this herself at Monday's Remembrance Day Parade since she was standing at the eastern end of the Cabinet Office lawn, but a close friend, standing on Front Street opposite Parliament Street was appalled by something she saw - and she was right to be.

Now, Hester knows that the operators of The Beach have a beef with Government right now after their gambling machines were confiscated by Police. And she also knows that the patrons of the bar revel in being the "shame of Front Street"; Indeed, she has been known to get a little "ashamed" herself down there from time to time.

But it did seem a little much for the bar to remain open throughout the Remembrance Day Parade, and for patrons of the bar to be sitting around talking and drinking beer throughout the minute of silence on Monday. Shame is one thing and a total lack of respect for war veterans, living and dead, is quite another.

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Mind, you not all war vets were taking things wholly seriously judging from one interviewed on ZBM. Asked about what action he had seen in the war the old soldier replied with a cheeky smile: "I can recall lots of action when on leave. We used to enjoy ourselves."

Still on the subject of bars. While newspaper boys and girls enjoy a deserved reputation for knocking back the odd beer or three, a photographer friend of Hester's who works for The Daily had his pride severely dented this week.

Receiving his monthly account from a popular Hamilton hostelry in the post, our lensman - whose credentials as a heavy consumer of Dark and Stormies has never before been in doubt - tore open the envelope and discovered that he owed a grand total of - 75 cents!

Bizarrely enough the bar in question had even forked out 35 cents to post the account to their not so loyal customer - even though it's located directly across the street from The Daily's office.

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Hester sees Bermuda's tourism industry has managed to make the list of four vacation spots where visitors are not going this winter.

It is not quite as bad as it sounds. The Wall Street Journal said it decided not to do a story on the most popular winter destinations, because "those places tend to be more expensive, harder to book and more crowded".

"So with an eye toward helping you blaze your own trail, we we asked four travel agents from across the country where the bulk of their clients aren't going this winter," the article said.

Bermuda, along with London, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Club Meds with low occupancies made the no-go list.

Of Bermuda, travel agent Stan Morse of Marstan Travel, Millbrook, New York, told the WSJ: "Bermuda is hurting ... 'due to a sharp downturn in business travel to the British run Atlantic Ocean island'."

"It's an upscale island, a little bit more expensive than the Caribbean, 'but airfares this winter should be around $250 to $300 from the East Coast. It's not a tropical island, so don't expect to come home bronzed. But it does provide a year-round chance to play golf.' "

Perhaps it's true: The only bad publicity is no publicity ... isn't it?

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And finally. Hester was left scratching her head when she heard a report on VSB's Tuesday broadcast claiming that, according to a survey, the station was regarded as the most unbiased of the Island's four media organisations.

The reason for Hester's bewilderment? Well, The Daily came in last, picking up the most votes in 'somewhat fair' and very unfair' categories. Yet, as any avid follower of the news will report, VSB's morning bulletins consist entirely of reading stories directly from the pages of the Island's only broadsheet.