With a single individual time-trial and fewer finishes at high altitude, the 2005 Tour could be a little less demanding than in recent years and give the likes of Jan Ullrich and Joseba Beloki more recovery time.

BBC: SPORT | Other Sport | Cycling | Tour bosses announce 2005 route

This holiday season, however, may prove to be a little different, as there is less money to spend and fewer co-workers on gift lists.

CNN: 10 fun, affordable gifts for co-workers

According to a little-publicised appendix to the 2011 budget, France has no fewer than 697 such commissions.

ECONOMIST: France's government

In effect it means the icy rains predicted could freeze the election for at least a few days - the American media will report on little else and fewer voters will hear what the politicians have to say.

BBC: Sandy colours the election campaign

What we now have a most unusual situation - a bank in Scotland with profits in freefall despite previous attempts at gutting expenses, comparatively few branches and soon to become fewer, effectively little more than an financial call centre with a few cheque cashing shops and a couple of trendy business centres.

BBC: RELATED BBC SITES

There are fewer clouds in the sky and the sun is finally starting to shine a little brighter.

FORBES: Cleaning Out My Financial Junk Drawer

Even a house like Mouton Rothschild has little influence with giants who concentrate on the more profitable spirits business and prefer to carry fewer labels and sizes.

FORBES: Counting Sheep