July 4, 1981

3 St Heliers Road,
Leyton,
London E10 6BH

Dear Frank and Jenny,

It must be summer because the race rioting season is well under way. West Indian origin in Brixton a few weeks ago. Indian origin in Southall last night. Australian origin in Earls Court within the next few days. It's bound to happen.

Besides looking at the date I typed on this here letter I discover it's American Independence Day. This, of course, is a load of nonsense. Britain has yet to obtain independence from America. But I will dutifully quaff a few beers tonight to celebrate the event... .any port in a storm.

The weather in. pomme land has been utterly ghastly. America's weather controlling programme based at the St Helens Volcano is proving to be more successful than anyone expected. My own fear is that Reagan's attempt to destroy Russian agriculture will result in a second (or third) Ice Age. Presumably, Reagan has decided to put extra funds to scientific research on the project and this is the reason for Mickey Rooney's court battle to win royalties (perhaps they call them republicanties in America?) for screen actors whose pre--1960 films are shown on TV. Reagan's early work, including a film he made with a chimp, is now extremely popular and no doubt the president will make sufficient funds from this free enterprise gambit to save the-- world.

Still on this subject a British scientist, whose name I can't remember at the moment, has suggested that the way to prevent an Ice Age is to build huge floating heating factories which warm millions of gallons of ocean a second, then pump the water to Briny depths. I suppose the theory is that the water would then rise and return to the pumping station like a giant Tibetan prayer wheel. God would see things were good and send a rainbow to prevent the Ice Age. Maybe I'm missing the point.

My own contribution to the debate has been to suggest that Sir Keith Joseph be nationalised. This has many attractions, not the least of which is that Sir Keith has virtually bottomless supplies of hot air. This can surely be tapped to benefit the nation.