Even in Britain largely protected from the twitchy derangement of round-the-clock coverage the arrival of the verdict was a moment of signal drama

Even in Britain, largely protected from the twitchy derangement of round-the-clock coverage, the arrival of the verdict was a moment of signal drama, which left more than a few viewers feeling shaken in a way they couldn’t quite account for. “Did you see it?” people said, in the confidence that there could be little doubt what “it” was.Such moments are rare these days – but that wasn’t the only occasion in 1995 when television forced people to abandon their own timetables for those of the broadcasters. I looked out from the Canary Wharf tower as the programme was broadcast and I don’t think I was simply being fanciful in detecting an unusual lightness to the traffic that night. In television histories the Queen’s Coronation is usually offered as the first great occasion of cathode-ray communion, so it’s intriguing to note that, more than 40 years on, almost exactly the same number of people watched Diana strip off the dignity of monarchy as watched Elizabeth assume it in 1953. Those watching did so for a huge range of motives – prurience, trepidation, gleeful republicanism, mournful fealty – but the effect of that transmission was of a moment of national attentiveness. Bear with me though, because this is not an argument about quality, more a suggestion that this was a year in which television powerfully reminded us of its ability to stir people en masse, an ability that video and satellite have already begun to blur.

We were reminded more than once that television may be the closest thing we have to that fabled and elusive textile – the fabric of the nation.
Sometimes this was so in a rather literal sense. When Princess Diana chose to enlist 21 million people to her personal therapy circle, she not only broke with royal convention but also raised serious constitutional issues about the future of the monarchy. First I did it to please myself, then I did it to please my friends, and finally I did it for money.” (29) I should have known better (30), but she was one of the early birds and I was one of the worms (31) She made me an offer I couldn’t refuse (32). The grey high- gloss Abstrakt is down from pounds 1,148 to pounds 804.Jerry’s Home StoreAt 163 Fulham Road, SW3; Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, SW1; The Bentall Centre, Kingston-upon-Thames; 57 Heath Street, Hampstead, NW3. Rather than having a regular sale, Jerry’s are promoting particular “Smart Buys” in January and February, reducing the prices of classic American kitchen and home wares. For example, there’s 24 per cent off the American Diner “Gibraltar” tumbler (now pounds 2.25), 34 per cent off their white rag rug, now pounds 5.95; 27 per cent off their popcorn popper, now pounds 19.95.

Customers are invited to telephone 0171-581 0909 for a catalogue.MiscellaneaStarts 28 December, ends 13 January At Crossways, Church, Farnham, Surrey (01428 714014) Sells decorative bathroom and kitchen objects. Some massive discounts, including marble bathroom suits reduced from pounds 2,500 to pounds 800.Natural Flooring Direct Starts 3 January. Sell flooring by mail order from Natural Flooring Direct, PO Box 8104, London SE16 4ZA (0800 454 721). Ten per cent off all stock, plus free fitting, free underlay and free sight survey.

For example, coir natural panama reduced from pounds 16.99 sq metre to pounds 15.30, wool boucle reduced from pounds 20.99 a sq metre to pounds 18.99.Nice Irma’sStarts 8 Jan at 46 Goodge Street, London W1 (0171-580 6921). Discounts of up to 50 per cent off a large range of iron and brass candlesticks and off selected fabrics. Price of plaid fabric halved to pounds 6.30.The PierRuns from 28 Dec until 21 Jan at stores around the country Customer inquiries 0171-351 7100 Christmas merchandise is reduced to clear. Other merchandise at half price or less includes china ranges, marble kitchen ware, selected terracotta and a range of vases.The Pukka PalaceSale starts 28 December, ends 28 January. Twenty per cent off their Anglo- Indian furniture and accessories, such as leather safari suitcases, solar topis and iron candlesticks. Pukka Palace, 174 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 (0171-234 0000).Purves & PurvesStarts 27 Dec at 80-81 and 83 Tottenham Court Road, London W1 (0171-580 8223) Up to 40 per cent off ex-display and discontinued lines.

Special orders will be reduced by 10 per cent on items over pounds 500. Rhode DesignStarts 23 December at 65 Cross Street, London N1 (0171-354 9933) Ten per cent of all ranges of mdf kitchen furniture, eg. 60cm wall cupboard reduced from pounds 195 to pounds 175.50.SCPFrom 6 to 27 January At 135-139 Curtain Road, London EC2 (0171-739 1869). Designer furniture and accessories by Jasper Morrison, Matthew Hilton, Le Corbusier, Mies Van Der Rohe … Discounts of up to 50 per cent on shop floor models, and 15 per cent off any other furniture ordered during the sale.Victoria & Albert Museum ShopStarts 8 January at Cromwell Road, London SW7 (0171-938 8468). Up to 75 per cent off selected lines of replica glasses, plates, cups and saucers, platters, goblet and contemporary-style vases.