Unfortunately the term ‘liberal’ or ‘liberalism’ has acquired a perjorative meaning as has – for example – socialist. Both are now, frequently used as a term of obloquy.

Re 23

……”targeted on your search history….”

If anything of an ADULT nature appears on your screens it is nothing to do with me. Any suggestions to the contrary will incur the wrath of Messrs Sue, Grabitt & Runne

It’s obvious that many of you must be vegetarians. You obviously don’t eat meat reared for that purpose nor then are you familiar with the processing of beef cattle thru’ slaughterhouse accompanied by the mournful lowing of said cattle very much aware of their fate.

While on the subject, I went to the ‘Exotic Food’ counter in my local Waitrose. I asked for some giraffe steaks – I think that the assistant thought I was ‘cuckoo’. I left her laughing like a hyena.

I pitched the butcher in the meat department with a #ock and bull story about camel meat. I’ve eaten plenty of camel although too much can give you the hump.

I though I’d collected enough egg on my face for one day. I joined the queue in the cafeteria and ordered a cod piece – or, was that a piece of cod? And pigs trotters.

I felt like I’d just had a day at the zoo.

Re 51

Snafu

The breadth and depth of your logic leaves me gasping with admiration.

If you like the dry factual style of delivery of the TV historian Stephen Bungay, who I consider to be every bit as good as the late, great A.J.P. Taylor, then his book: “The Most Dangerous Enemy” should be on your list.

Of the many accounts of the Battle of Britain, this has to be the best. Mr. Bungay is at his eloquent finest. His verdict is that the Battle wasn’t the ‘close run event’ that is conventional thinking.

ISBN 978-1-84513-481-5

***** Five stars and worth everyone

Jim,

In your case it is pretty obviously impracticable to build a containment wall – you can’t do it for the reasons you gave.

But, not everyone is in that situation. When 38 years ago you were thinking about buying your property, a leisurely walk around the local area, without the requirement for any special expertise on your part, would have given you more than a clue that you were moving to an area that could be prone to flood.

The prime clue is in the number and proximity of the rivers.