BEWARE THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES

FOR years we fellas have been told that if only women were in charge of the world, peace and harmony would reign. The traditional female characteristics of caring, tenderness and compassion would prevail and all that masculine aggressiveness would be rightfully banished. Oh yeah?

Across the Irish Sea in fair Belfast it seems the leader of the Democratic Unionists, Arlene Foster, is at daggers drawn with Sinn Fein boss Michelle O’Neill, successor to the departed McGuinness.

A wise man would not wish to get between those two. Up in Scotland the Edinburgh parliament rocked in their chairs when Tory leader Ruth Davidson told Nationalist chief Nicola Sturgeon to “be quiet” during a debate on a new referendum. The Nationalists won that one but not by a landslide.

So La Sturgeon has duly sent her letter to British prime minister Theresa May demanding another secession referendum about two-and-a-half years after losing the “decision of a lifetime”.

The reply from Downing Street may have to be borne north in gloved hands to avoid acid burns. Across the Channel our prime minister is up against German Chancellor Angela “Mutti” (Mummy) Merkel. But La Merkel becomes ever less maternal whenever the question of Brexit is raised.

Down here in Buckinghamshire, whenever the CO gives vent it is wise just to say “Yes, dear” and take the dogs for a walk.

The ladies may be in charge at last but they seem to be at it like Kilkenny cats. (My apologies to the felines of Kilkenny who probably prefer, like our moggie, a folded towel under a warm radiator. Mere males are wise to join her.)