Getting middle-aged. Should I buy a Volvo?

Yes. Those American-style ones are catching on in China too.

I think the idea is to reduce skidmarks, which is admirable, and to ensure that all the poo is under water, reducing the smell while you're sitting reading your phone. But the water is indeed far too high. Many is the time that I have accidentally dipped my hand into the water when wiping. Ugh. Still, stops me picking my nose, I suppose.

At least they're better than the Germans, with their inspection platforms.





(Thank goodness they used a sausage for illustration purposes.)

Why?

It raises the poo out of the water, ensuring that the toxic smell fills the room. The height means there's significant risk of back-of-the-hand smearage, which is not a good thing. And the purpose.... The purpose is to allow you to inspect your poo. Who inspects their poo?

There is a lot to be said for Germany. Some of my best friends are German. Some of the best cars I've owned have been German. One of my favourite comedians in German. But there is no excuse for their toilets.

 

I accidentally stumbled into an Italian car show in Canberra a few months ago.

One of the most interesting cars there was only a bit Italian - it was a Citroen SM, which was a Citroen-Maserati joint project. Because if you're Citroen and you're having trouble with reliability and quality control, the way to solve that problem is to bring in the Italians.

They were, when they worked, amazing cars. They looked like something out of The Future, in a 60s-and-70s way, and they were really fast for their day. And incredibly luxurious and innovative.

But most of all, they looked amazing.







There was also a Lancia Stratos, which was lovely.

 

I really liked the whole idea of the One & Other project. It was a great way of getting people involved in the arts, and in public performance and civil society.

Your friends' friend's performance is excellent, from what I've seen so far. It must have been fun.

I stayed in Walthamstow for the first time ever last year. It was a lovely place, and nothing like I was expecting (I think I was basically expecting the miserable cast of EastEnders). There is some unbelievable food on the main street.

 

As someone used to Sydney prices, I was looking in the Walthamstow estate agents' windows with a pang of jealousy. I was stunned by the prices, but in the opposite direction.

It is a lovely place, though, and it's a good commute: I had meetings in Mayfair when I was there, and it only took 25 or 30 minutes to get there by tube, which was great.

I wish I'd known about the William Morris gallery. That would have been brilliant.

 

We don't have Scions. But I think a Scion XB is a Toyota Rukus here. They don't sell hybrids of them here, though.

 

My mum had the Gen 1 Megane. Someone crashed into it at a roundabout in France, and even though it got fixed up, it was never the same again. Before that, it was a pretty good car, but afterwards there were problems with the electrics, and lots of leaks and wind noise.

Hmmm....

I like salted caramel things. And that Lindt chilli chocolate is nice. But I've seen this in the supermarket and I can't bring myself to try it.

You must be very proud.

You're also better than us at Prime Ministerial hair-pulling. And running decent-sized dairy farms. And you beat us by miles on Orc population figures.

 

Ah, yes. This was a moment of genius.

You're right: a GTV with Nissan electrics would have been a far better thing.