Instead, we have the annual pageant of our college basketball tournament, ending with the Final Four next weekend – a much more democratic (and dramatic) event. It’s become a national obsession, even for those who know little about basketball. At the beginning of the tournament we Americans struggle to fill in our brackets, choosing which of the 68 invited teams will advance game-by-game to the championship. There are numerous office pools and family contests, and many theories as to how to pick the winners, some not that scientific. My sister’s cat is an annual participant in our family pool, choosing the fiercest felines from among the team mascots.

This year has been a year of upsets, with none of the favored teams reaching the final group. We sadly watched Sue’s college team, the North Carolina Tarheels, go down to defeat in the quarterfinals. My favorite team, the Syracuse Orange (they used to be the Orangemen, the school having been founded by a Northern Irish minister, but sanitized their image recently), lost early on. So we are left now with Huskies, Bulldogs, Rams and Wildcats. My sister’s cat may yet triumph.

I well remember that episode … it’s the only one of the “Yes, Minister”/”Yes, Prime Minister” series that I don’t have!

The programme was brilliant … it’s “relevance” led to it being popular in lots of countries, (not just the UK), and over a period of time. It is still shown here, (in Russian), and I have recommended it as compulsory viewing to several government officials, and even the odd minister.

Even the episode about the spat with the French over the construction of the Channel Tunnel is still relevant, despite the fact that the Tunnel has been completed and in use for decades.

I think it is one of the best comedies to have come out of the BBC, if not Britain, if not ever.

I have signed up for the newsletter and will see if it provides inspiration. It’s funny, sometimes things that seem so totally off the ball can lead one to thoughts and connections that set off thought processes, so you never know.

You are right … I do enjoy getting away from the office and the city, so I am looking forward to trip, even if it is six hours on the road up one day, and six hours back on the next.

Take care … and, once again, Thanks.

The memory was Jim Hacker defending the great British sausage in Yes Minister, it was this episode (in life as much as a TV series) that led to our dear Jim becoming Prime Minister; and the show evolving into Yes Prime Minister.

It just reinforces how relevant the writing was all those years ago to pick up on a ridiculous themes which in the course of time seems to have been prophetic – the question now is Does David Cameron have to be wary of a change to his position as PM?

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Have fun on the trip to Naryn; as I sense you normally enjoy your breaks from the city.