This England: Polly-mouth

This column – which, though named after a line in Shakespeare’s “Richard II”, refers to the whole of Britain – has run in the NS since 1934.

By New Statesman

Polly-mouth

Five foul-mouthed parrots have been causing a comical stir at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park by swearing in front of visitors and staff.

African grey parrots Billy, Tyson, Elsie, Jade and Eric arrived at the park in Friskney together, which is also home to the National Parrot Sanctuary. The five parrots have often been heard “effing and blinding at each other”, much to the amusement of staff and visitors.

The Lincolnite (Janet Mansfield)

In the orange

Money is not supposed to grow on trees, but Waitrose appears keen to prove the old adage wrong by selling a bag of autumn leaves for £6.

The Times (Chris Nicholls)

Not short of port

Sir – I believe the apparent shortage of sherry is due to its use in recipes for banana bread being baked during the pandemic. I started using reserve port instead.

Letter in the Daily Telegraph (Peter Phillips)

Isolation nation

An Indian takeaway has launched a 114-item feast for self-isolators which takes ten days to eat. Dishes include one named “Aag Maithyoo Hancock”, or “Sack Matt Hancock”. The £49.99 banquet from Bombaylicious, in Coulsdon, Surrey, includes six lagers and 27 dishes, in what is thought to be the largest set-meal takeaway in the world.

Daily Mirror (Daragh Brady)