Wee old women and The Big Issue

Is it just me or have all the regular Big Issue vendors mysteriously disappeared and been replaced all over Glasgow by these wee old women in headscarves.

Has there been some sort turf war where these small women have, in one fell swoop, told all the other vendors to go to bed without any tea and not allowed them out again?

And why whenever I walk past one do I feel like I'm about to be told to go upto the shops for some messages** ?

**(Glasgow terminology for shopping)