But few of today's imaginative ideas would have made it onto drawing boards without cork's competition from screw-top bottle caps, plastic stoppers and aluminum Tetra Paks.

WSJ: Cork's Popping Potential

Champagne Sabering 101 is held every night at twilight and this ritual -- where a sword is used to slice off the top of a champagne bottle -- must be seen to be believed.

CNN: 12 fun ways to hit the slopes without skis

Therefore, I would say, out with the performance-related pay for top managers (a good bottle of wine at Christmas and, if you insist, a small cheque like the rest of us would do).

FORBES: What's Wrong With Senior Executive Pay? - Lots (In My View)

The Strand is still there, but totally renovated as a top-of-the-range hotel, where a bowl of spicy lentil soup and a bottle of Mandalay beer will cost you as much as a room once did.

ECONOMIST: Pukkah hotels