Looks like the good people at Defra (sounds like some kind of Bond villain) can sigh a cautious sigh of relief at the news that the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Surrey seems to have been contained.

I remember the last time vast numbers of infected cattle had to be culled in 2001. It was a sorry sight. At least this time around it seems to have been nipped in the bud, although we shouldn't be too hasty.

A carnivore myself, I always find it distressing when people have to mess with animals, or needlessly interfere with their well-being. I don't even like the biologist types who keep bothering animals and fixing tracking devices to them in order to monitor their every movement. I don't need to know where the Golden Eagle flies off to; just leave it be.

Anyway, I think the French were already gearing up to ban beef imports from the UK. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Man, don't have a cow!