The combined efforts of the emergency workers kept the river from going over its banks, barely.

We don't know precisely how far it had advanced, or how much Danzig Willie altered the original plans; but during reharling operations by the National Trust for Scotland in 1973, the architects found that in the hall there was a window that had been blocked up.

After he'd convinced you you'd only got one leg – the left – he'd sell you a gross of right-footed shoes. Cheap at half the price! A real bargain. Afterwards, you'd feel you'd been done a favour to, and obligingly walk off with a limp.

a recurrent nerve or artery