Nothing as far as I can see. We sell drinks and sweets in our car park lobbies. We fill the mall with tacky traders - sorry, I mean customer focused promotions, designed to increase footfall and garner yet more turnover from the available space.

Our car parking prices have just gone up above the rate of inflation, yet despite being half empty, sorry, nearly full, in the middle of the week, are we considering an off peak reduction?

Not a chance. So my tenants look at rows of blank spaces as they start the long walk to an increasing rare on-street parking place. Meanwhile, as I walk to my reserved spot do I have sympathy? Well, yes. I had thought of asking my surveyor to park a mile away and walk in, but on balance I'd better not.

To add further misery I have just been told that my promotions budget has been cut again, but they say I can make it up with income from mall traders.

This will mean further aggravation from tenants as they complain about taking the bread from their mouths. As one said to me: "I don't mind you having some cream, and at a push some jam, but come on!" Actually, on the face of it, I seem to be asking for a full Devon cream tea and maybe a light supper to follow.

You know it's the little things that count. Shopping should be made a pleasure, not a stressful duel between Mum, Dad and little Junior who wants to have a go on every ride they pass in the centre or wants a drink from every machine. It's enough to put you off shopping and if we keep on acting in this kind of way, there's just the possibility that it may end up doing so.

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