Cry Havoc, too often, in the wrong way, and...

Storm winds batter Britain

No looking good, to be sure.

Then this arrived:


A Flood Warning has been issued for the River Wye from Hereford To Ross On Wye area. Flooding of homes and businesses is expected. Act now!

The Environment Agency advises you to act now:

- Ring Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for up to date flooding information
- Stay tuned to radio and television weather, news and travel bulletins
- Keep a watch on water levels
- Move family, pets and valuables to safety
- Help neighbours
- Use sandbags or flood boards to block doors and airbricks
- Don't drive through flood water
- Be prepared to turn off gas and electricity supplies
- Find more information at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline

Above all - be careful. The Environment Agency cannot be held responsible for any accidents, injuries, or losses, financial or otherwise, which occur as a result of this email. Forecasts cannot be guaranteed.

I don't know the best answer, but this cannot be it. Yet again, the footy field next to the river ended up waterlogged.

First time I move the family. Second time we glanced out the window. Fool me once...

Now we feel they are more making sure they can say they tried to avoid criticism rather than being sensible about helping folk make decisions. Box ticking. Target meeting. I called to suggest that this was losing value rapidly by being such a blanket alert and why not be more honest on the limits of the system and parameters. I was advised to unsubscribe.

Is there a metaphor here?

Some are obviously more etiquette-enhanced than others

London's street theatre etiquette - a metaphor in life?

'...where between themselves they drew up a rota of who would perform and when'.

'...the square was not a public space'

'...due to the very public nature of their work'

'Some folks just don't understand the rules'

I'm sorry, but I don't understand a few things here. It's public entertainment but not in a public space. And if there are rules, if not set by those, one presumes, in control of the area, what are they and administered and policed by whom?

Not to excuse the obnoxious and foul-mouthed (I am sure the counter-arguments were purest examples of linguistic and diplomatic rectitude, of which even Mrs. Beckett would have approved) Ozzies, but I do wonder how this does all get sorted out.

It would be sad to discover that some can enjoy more 'etiquette advantage' than others by a cosy arrangement between those who are 'in' and can play the system, to ensure no further others can intrude. One imagines this to be a lucrative patch and attracting new talent regularly so the competition for top slot must be keen.

So what seems to be being achieved here could be seen to be a compromise between potential extremes of hypocritical corruption in the guise of democracy, and outright anarchy.

Bit like ... anything really... today. Assuming satisfactory answers to my few questions, if successful, and barring incidents from foreigners flying (or boating... just ask Mrs B again) into what 'we' think is 'our' territory, it seems a model for future governance.