Wonder as you wander

AN email arrived this morning from the Catskills. Every Christmas, my friend David sends me his homemade Pecan Clouds (it’s a Southern thing) and alerts me when they’re in the post. Today’s subject line was worrying: I GIVE UP. He writes that he’s finally been defeated by the US and UK postal systems.

I can’t say I’m surprised. Last year, his seasonal confection of sugar, egg whites, pecan halves and vanilla extract attracted VAT and duty of £1,000. Although the package weighed less than a hummingbird, was no larger than a bar of Ivory soap and adorned with