Grenfell - the Tower of Babel

AFTER one reader blamed his plumpness on that common condition, an over-active deep-fat fryer, another reader weighs in with her excuse: “Flabby willpower.”

AFTER last week's item on racing boats, a reader recalls a conversation at the riverside as the prizes were awarded. Wife: “Do their coxes get a medal?" Husband: “No, they hang them around their necks.”

AS the world marks the 100th anniversary of the battle we know as Passchendaele, I found this example of "lions led by donkeys" in Lyn Macdonald's excellent book, They Called It Passchendaele. As the Flanders battlefield turned to mud under constant rain and shelling, one tank commander drew a map, using blue to mark the inundated areas which had become impassable to tanks. Before long, there was more blue than white. The British Army's wildly mistitled Chief of Intelligence, Brigadier-General John Charteris, refused to show "these ridiculous maps" to his boss, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, on the grounds that "it would only depress him."

“MR Davis asked if I was going to Switzerland and recommended a lovely village called Dignitas.” from Theresa May's diary, as imagined in the current Private Eye.

LAST week's uninspiring UK growth figures were reported grimly in the Guardian, prompting this response from one reader: "Isn't it great to see the effects of Brexit kicking in and know there is only worse to come? It really is the gift that keeps on giving." What do you call someone who would positively rejoice at the prospect of his nation crashing into recession because it would prove him right?

PRESUMABLY he comes from the same stable as my correspondent who condemns those 17,410,742 of his fellow citizens who voted to leave the EU with: “All Brexiters are actually bigoted xenophobes.” Mind you, he also declared that he would “consider it an insult” to be called a patriot. Seriously, my friend, that is not something you should worry about.

IN the past few weeks about £20 million has been raised for the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster. Some survivors have not received a penny. "Ambulance chasing" lawyers have been accused of touting for business in the area. After Aberfan, Katrina and Haiti, this tragedy has all the makings of yet another disaster-fund scandal. Every day brings more confusion. The inferno has spawned dozens of organisations claiming to represent the residents. It was reported a few days ago that one fund supported by public donations has paid out £110,000 - divided between no fewer than 20 different community groups. At a public meeting a few days ago, angry and bewildered residents shouted: "Where is the money?" Expect to hear that question asked many more times as Grenfell Tower turns into a modern-day Tower of Babel.

"IT'S not new news, it's old news. We've known about it for ages," declares the BBC's environment analyst Roger Harrabin breezily, commenting on the annnouncement that no new diesel or petrol cars will be made after 2040. Curious. Do you recall the Beeb sharing this "old news" with the rest of us? Me neither. Any other gems hidden up your sleeve, Auntie?