"inconsistent winds forced the postponement of the first race"

That seems a bit of a cop-out - you only race when you like the wind. I'd have thought you'd race no matter what, even in a dead calm - oars over the side and sweat it out.

ted - wrong way for what?

New words are good - sometimes.

I particularly liked Gary Larson's "thagomizer", which is starting to see general use.

Sorry to say, but I read the title as meaning a legal suit - which I can see coming if anyone tries to wear one of them!

My dad lived in London and was seven when this was filmed - he remembered going to to the docks with his younger brother to watch the shipping. A bus ride or two from where they lived in Pimlico, unaccompanied.

My daughter's the same age now - and is looking forward to being able to go swimming on her own this summer when she's eight.

felixthecat - that'd depend on who's wearing them. If it's the Squid (my wife) then they'd be beautiful even if she could sling them over each shoulder.

Yup, it's a baby teether mde from coral. I wonder how many babies choked on the janglies?

I suppose this belongs in the "I didn't know that but I'm not surprised" category - after all, cats use whiskers for feeling around, as do walruses.

That's my schadenfreude allowance for the day.

A few years ago I found 120 quid in a book I owned and hadn't read for a decade or so. I've no idea why or when I stashed it there.

The only occasion we've stayed in a hotel in France the service was minimal and not very helpful - which is why we camp. Campsite owners seem a lot more helpful.

Only for people with nice tight elastic skin - catching a wrinkle in that would hurt.

I still want one, though.

With a bit of attention to even flow it'd make a fun radiator - though a sod to dust

As someone on Radio 4 said, since it was a phone poll, it may just mean that dog owners are more likely to have ex-directory phone numbers.

It's good 'cos it's original - expect a flood of copycats shortly, none of whom will understand why theirs isn't funny.