Hitler suffered acutely from meteorism; perhaps he did not suffer so acutely as those around him, since meteorism is uncontrolled farting, a condition exacerbated by Hitler's strictly vegetarian diet.

Fear of death has never played a large part in my consciousness - perhaps unimaginative of me.

I'm not saying all publishers have to be literary, but some interest in books would help.

It is the woman - nearly always - in spite of all the advances of modern feminism, who still takes responsibility for the bulk of the chores, as well as doing her paid job. This is true even in households where men try to be unselfish and to do their share.

The latest research has revealed that women have a higher IQ than men.

We tell ourselves that God is dead, when what we mean is that God is Dad, and we wish him dead.

It would no doubt be very sentimental to argue - but I would argue it nevertheless - that the peculiar combination of joy and sadness in bell music - both of clock chimes, and of change-ringing - is very typical of England. It is of a piece with the irony in which English people habitually address one another.