12 JANUARY 1985, page 30

Gardens

Stamping out slugs Ursula Buchan T have sometimes wondered what strong .11-inner compulsion drives gardeners to struggle outside in early winter, equipped with rakes and besoms,......

Television

Sign of the times Alexander Chancellor A s a nation, we are not reputed to be fond of abroad, particularly at the moment. This makes it all the more sur- prising to me that so......

Home Life

• Casualties Alice Thomas Ellis T once heard a person remark with great Ifeeling, 'I hate babies.' He didn't really hate them at all, but I knew what he meant — all the......