to accommodate an old friend for a week

When Uff investigated Southall, the concept of crumple zones in rolling stock was slowly becoming established. He wrote: A particular design feature which has proved controversial is the introduction of 'crumple zones', as energy-absorbing measures at the end of coaches. This was opposed by some who considered that it represented a new hazard in view of the possibility of passengers being located within these zones. British Rail designed and built its HSTs before crumple zones became common.

Uncle Murray is on a very strict heart healthy diet. Katherine may be a fishetarian — she has some sort of ulcer-thing I think, because I know that eating much in the way of tomatoes is a no-no for her.

In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result.