Across the pond

Stock markets around the world are crashing once again, but fear not, Gordon Brown, in Washington, bending the ear of Barack Obama to get his help in saving the world. He wants tighter regulation the bankers. Meanwhile back at home the boss of HSBC has offered to waive his multi-million pound bonuses. Fred the Shed is still hanging on to his £12 million pension, but it is early days.

Here in Dorset it is raining, but it has not blighted the visit of my singing niece and her man. We are off shortly to see him perform in a play in Totnes. And they tell us that the recession is not blighting the Welsh National Opera. The punters are trooping in to drown their sorrows in the Marriage of Figaro.