Climate under pressure

Hurricane Charlie batters Florida, Hong Kong reports its heaviest rainfall ever, ruinous hailstorms rattle China and we here in the North West had our share too. There's so much weather about -- I've never seen so much rain fall in one place for such a sustained period -- I really could have done with that barometer.

Sadly, however, it wasn't to be. It was a good looking thing and I was keen to own it. An aneroid barometer dating for the 1920s, it caught my eye at a local collectors' fair with a price tag of £75.

The circular dial was framed in oak, the wood carved to represent rope, and although it was plain and businesslike, it was hopefully reliable. After the traditional round of bartering, it was mine for £60.Read more »

McCartney concert tickets in Music Clearing Minefields auction

Fresh from his headlining Live 8 Hyde Park appearance, Paul McCartney is top billing in another gig - a charity auction to raise money to rid that other scourge of Third World countries: anti-personnel mines. Read about it here and get bidding.