Budget blues of a different kind

What is Caprolactam?" asked the missus as we settled down before the TV.

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"Capo Laktum? Never heard of him.

Is he some old Sicilian friend of mine?" "Caprolactam, stupid. Ever since I remember, every year taxes were increased on petrol, cigarettes and Caprolactam. But now I find no mention of the stuff." I made a mental note for myself.

One of these days, when I am at a loose end, I must tootle off to the library and research why this Caprolactam stuff earlier found mention in dispatches but now does not. Occasional intellectual pursuits are said to be good for the grey matter.

The missus prattled on, "The Economic Survey makes everything look so rosy. I have a sneaky suspicion that all the figures are fudged." She declared this with such conviction that for a moment I thought she really understood what all the annual hoo-ha is about. I have never pretended to understand the Economic Survey or the puzzling numbers that go with it. Even then, for the little woman to declare that the statistics dished out were fudged was a bit strong. I said as much.