[O]ur nocturnal visitors would, with much clattering and banging, collect and dispose of the contents of our commodes, or thunder boxes, doubtless to be used as fertiliser for distant vegetable gardens. We had about half a dozen thunder boxes ranged down one side of the bathroom,[…]. The practice was to leave unused thunder boxes with their seats and lids up, to indicate which were available, and then close them after use.

“Probably because you were only thinking about one thing.” She smothered her own thoughts and feelings as she took on the necessary role. “That's what men are like, right? Any hole's a goal?”

There were problems in my dad’s day: ants, skunks, wax moths and a couple of deadly but well-known bee diseases, like foulbrood and nosema.

The government has prescribed hourages for other courses and time to be spent in school, so there is no room in the college timetable.