Oh dear, things must have got really bad if even the Americans are starting to complain about whingeing poms. Of course that’s a bit rich coming from someone whose name is Eric Weiner. He’s an ex-NYT journalist who has written a book comparing levels of happiness in different parts of the world. One place comes off particularly badly:

‘Slough is a treasure trove of unhappiness, buried beneath a copious layer of gloom,’ he said. ‘The colours range from deeper to lighter shades of grey. The people seem grey, too and slightly dishevelled. The word frumpy springs to mind.’

John Betjeman has a lot to answer for (at least according to Slough’s local council).

Then again, how seriously should we take a book from a country that is also producing a self-help manual called Asshole: How I got Rich and Happy by Not Giving a S*** About You. Thankfully I have been to New York and I know that not all of its inhabitants are like that, even if it is a common stereotype. I also think that if Martin Kihn was really as tough and uncompromising as he claims then he would not have been so nervous about writing “shit” on the cover of his book.