There is a rather good article in todays Sunday Telegraph promoting a new book by John Humphrys about modern manners, or lack of them. Mr Humphrys argues why politeness still matters ( and I agree) and Mr Humphrys does not like being called John by strangers . In his view ” society has succumbed to the strange affliction of emotional incontinence…blubbing has become compulsory ” Restraint tends to be jeered at. The still upper lip is derided” . The phrase that I dislike the most is ” I was gutted”. What does this mean, that you are a fish without guts ? or just another failed contestant from X factor with little ability to express themselves other than by crying or comparing themselves to a fish without guts. I think it might be worth reading Mr Humphrys’ book, out on Tuesday and published by Waitrose.