New angles on saying you & apos; re sorry

Certain types of writing exist neither to entertain nor inform, but only to fill their allotted space with minimum embarrassment and maximum decorum. Examples include opinion pieces by minor politicians, memoirs of sportsmen and bankers, the father of the bride's speech at a wedding, and leaders in the Financial Times. The chairman's annual report to shareholders falls into that category. Nobody expects passion, truth or laughs, and they never get them either. As with the mothers of newborn babies, company chairman assume shareholders have delicate stomachs, likely to be upset if served...