[Brian Allgar]

Good one too, John. I'm all in favour of zapping the rich - unless one day, against all the odds, I become rich myself. But you obviously meant the undeserving rich, so I'd be OK.

One small quibble: you start by apostrophizing the bombs, but end by apostrophizing the "Gracious Lord", which to my mind slightly weakens the effect.

[John Whitworth]

You are right, Brian. I have made amendments.

[John Whitworth]

Well of course, Mary, I have no intention of flattening Chorleywood. 'Tis but a tale.

[Brian Allgar]

On looking up Chorleywood on the Internet, I found the following:

In the early 1960s, researchers at the British Baking Industries Research Association in Chorleywood improved upon an earlier American bread making process. This resulted in the Chorleywood Bread Process, which is now used in over 80% of commercial bread production throughout the UK.

Well, we all know what commercial bread is like, so if you feel like flattening the place, John, go ahead. Present and future generations of bread-eaters will thank you.

I speak, of course, as one who can buy freshly-baked baguettes, brioches, croissants, pain de campagne, and all kinds of other delicious bread, just across the road from my flat in Paris. Living in Frogland is not all bad, apart from the Frogs themselves.

[John Whitworth]

That's interesting, Brian, but Chorleywood is also the richest place in the UK according to something else I found on the Internet. Which was just as well because no other place fits. Saint John's Wood is too long and Petts Wood is to short and anyway far too poor.

Did you notice 'Hit me with your rhythm stick' jostling its way in there?

[FOsen]

Although he lived to disavow
His wish that bombs might fall on Slough,
Soon bombs were raining, anyhow,
From Hull to Henley.

Would Betjeman have wanted moms
In Grozny, Vukovar or Homs
To read his plea for dropping bombs,
Albeit friendly?

No, he was more for conservation.
See how his statue, in elation,
Regards St Pancras' preservation,
Pleased at its sprawling.

He wears a sharp, disarming air
While goggling at the rooftop, where
He seems relieved to see that there
Is nothing falling.

Frank

[Susan McLean]

Delightful, Frank.

Susan

[Martin Parker]

Frank, That one is a joy.

[Ann Drysdale]

Thanks, Frank. I needed to read that. I hope Lucy likes it as much as I do.

[Mary McLean]

Ah yes, Frank's is lovely.

John, did you know that Betjeman was a big fan of Chorleywood? It received some of his most lavish praise in the Metroland documentary. And of course I don't really want it flattened either, but it was an odd place to live when not a millionaire. When I lived there it wasnt as rich as nearby Gerrard's Cross, but perhaps my moving away lifted the average.

And yes, industrial bread is bad, but it was worse before the Chorleywood process. Ironically, Chorleywood had the best local bakery I have ever found.