The quality of the free postcards in bars and cafes is variable, sometimes including annoying messages from the sponsor just where you need to write.
World Book Day organisers are infiltrating the racks this year with Peter Blake and Pablo Bernasconi among the artists being disseminated in the Spread the Word campaign. The images are all connected with books and reading (there’s a Noddy figure in the Peter Blake picture, “A Parade for Saul Steinberg taken with a Nokia 7610”), and the back of the card invites you to recommend a good read to a friend.
If bar-hopping isn’t on your agenda between now and March 3, or you’re too embarrassed to clear the racks, you can order packs for school (minimum order 200 for pound;7.50, tel: 01634 729810; wbd@education.co.uk). Check all eight images out at www.worldbookday.com.