While he’s resting in peace, I wonder whether he’ll reflect on his controlling and often abusive behaviour towards women. My guess would be not. So while I applaud the art - and I love the man’s music - let’s not give him a total bus pass.

There used to be an excellent restaurant in the City of London called Simpson's Tavern where, if you ordered a steak, one of the burly waiters would growl: "Why don't you man up and have a sausage with that?"

Yes, I was there too. A total performance. I've got a memory of her hanging off a ladder, yes?

I know. It’s a nasty portent of how they plan to behave towards us going forwards. I don’t really have the patience to explore off-grid options but they might drive me into it. And we pay them too!

I did read it today Henry and really enjoyed it. It very much fits in with work I’m doing for a client. I’ll do a share/review. But in answer to your “rant”? Yes.

Oh. That’s the first I heard of it. Like you, I loved Denis as a kid: the skill, the aggression, the love of the game and always a great sportsman. RIP.

Were this to be a Dear Mary column question, I think I might suggest replying to the relative: “Don’t worry, I always love an opportunity to give food I’ve cooked to the local homeless charity so you’ve done me a favour!”

Persian rice and fish cooked in cumin with currants over here.

Lovely. I read all 12 in the summer of 1982, after leaving university. I got a job as a porter in the Gifts Department of Harrods. I had a tiny hole in the basement where I waited for orders to wrap up musical cottages to send to America. Mostly, I read Powell.

Ah. Was my local in a different life years ago. I trust they treated you well.