Overheard

A boy, about eight years old, riding his bike, his mother riding behind him, bumped up over a raised and rather rough kerb on to the cycle path and came to a slow halt: "I'll talk to The Government about that!" he said to his mother in an earnest, adult-like tone. (In our neighbourhood, most of the other kerbs that lead to cycle paths are smooth, which the boy obviously knew.)

Mother, stopping behind him: "Yes, you'll have to write them a letter."

I couldn't see whether she was smiling wryly, but my wife and I had a great laugh.