Experimental

Buying an item this morning on Stevenage High St, I received a shiny £5 note - the new plastic one, which I had not seen before.

The blip is an experiment. Holding it up towards the setting sun the back image - Winston Churchill - shines through. The transparent strip has Big Ben superimposed over it.

And through the strip can be seen part of Portsmouth harbour, lit up by the setting sun. That is where we currently are, waiting to board for our crossing to France.

I can see why the Royal Mint thinks this might create problems for prospective forgers.