Steve Fossett landed one for the record books last Thursday, touching down in his single-engine jet in Salina, Kansas, at the point from which he took off 67 hours earlier,. What he'd accomplished was the first non-stop, around-the-world solo flight.

Forget how they managed to get that much fuel aboard, or how he kept himself awake for that long. How the hell did he hold his bowels for nearly three days? Asked, on emerging from the plane whether he'd like a shower, he replied: "I wouldn't mind finding a toilet." Wouldn't mind?

The next worst thing to being unable to get to a toilet is being unable to get out of one. This was the hapless fate on Friday of an English gent who, on a visit to his dentist at the Academy Dental Practice, went into the toilet before checking in with the receptionist. Before he finished his business, the Practice finished theirs, locking both office and loo doors.

Facing a weekend of imprisonment, and having recently suffered a stroke, the partially-paralyzed chap had to balance on a paint can so as to shout out of the barred window at passers-by. He was finally rescued.

To compensate for their oversight, the Academy Dental Practice apologized and agreed to drill his teeth for free. That probably made him feel better.