Peter Rhodes on a much-reported vineyard, memories of milk floats and more on the 'gammon' debate

A READER says he is surprised that Whitehall has launched task-force inquiries into the feasibility of both recyclable containers and rechargeable electric vehicles. He seems to recall that half-a-century ago the roads were full of such vehicles laden with hundreds of such containers, all containing milk. It must be the heat, sir. Your mind is clearly playing tricks.

IN the same way, I'm sure I remember milkmen on electric floats delivering orange squash. What was that all about?

HAS there ever been a summer when the TV cameras have not dropped in at the publicity-astute Halfpenny Green Vineyard near Wolverhampton to report on the state of the vintage? According to the latest bulletin from BBC Midlands Today, this year's vintage will be terrific - and there'll be plenty of it, folks. The camera lingered lovingly on the neck of a white-wine bottle and the "Halfpenny Green" label as they poured the chilled, inviting stuff. Officially, the BBC does not do advertising.

I AM delighted to host the ongoing debate on whether "gammon," a term applied solely to white people, is racist. One of the latest contributions from a reader is: "There is no such thing as racism against white people." Hang on. Why are we whiteys spared the scourge of suffering racism? Isn't that a bit, well, racist? Ideally, this debate would be happening in mid-winter rather than in high summer when so many folk, regardless of their politics, are on the burnt-bacon side of pink. Oh dear, I may have gone too far.

MEANWHILE, count your blessings on two fronts. A couple of readers make good points. Firstly, why should we moan about the heat when every year millions of Britons head overseas in search of such weather? Secondly, isn't it blessed relief to be spared the endless midsummer roar of lawnmowers?

A READER is shocked to have become a "they". He explains that a Channel 5 programme on the drought referred to how "we" are now experiencing temperatures in the 30s but in the drought year of 1976 "they" had a dry winter. "I feel slightly uncomfortable to be a 'they', he says. "Does the presenter think we have all died?"

AND here's something to cut out and keep - the words of a pundit on the radio who declared, without a shred of doubt: "This sort of weather is going to be the summer norm over the next 20 years." When it is chucking it down next July, read it again and smile.

IF journalists tend to be a wee bit sceptical about extreme weather, it's probably because so many of us have bitter memories from earlier hot summer of writing the definitive, in-depth and well-researched feature: "Is Britain Frying?" only for the heavens to open a few hours before deadline and the rattled features editor to beg: "Is there any way we can re-jig it as 'Is Britain Drowning?' Been there, done that.