Word of the day

Petrichor (PET-ri-kuhr) 

The distinctive aroma of rain falling on dry earth. I never knew it had a special name until now.

Two things you don't see every day

1) England, Scotland and Wales, all completely white with snow. Courtesy of NASA via.

2) A worker-owned co-operative out-performing a massive FTSE 100 PLC:

Yesterday, there was a significant political development. I refer not to the Dumb and Dumber show, but to a statement by Sir Stuart Rose of Marks & Spencer:

“There is no doubt about it, we have been bested by Waitrose. It’s not a secret.”
M&S said UK food sales, based on stores open at least a year, rose 0.4 per cent in the 13 weeks to December 26. That compares with like-for-like sales growth of 9 per cent at Waitrose.

Waitrose is of course owned by its workers, and its boss earns barely one-third of Sir Stuart’s £1.76m annual salary.

Notes Chris Dillow.