Now, given what has happened, the authorities would be wise to do so, for they can be absolutely certain that the financial markets will be figuring out the consequences.The best outcome of all this would be for the European political elite to think a bit less about politics and focus a bit more on economics. The punters have rejected their politics so they had better make sure they don't reject their economics too.So the elite should start to think seriously - and apolitically - about the reasons for the failure of the Lisbon Agenda, which was supposed to help Europe catch up in technology terms with the US. They should think about the relationship with Russia, the country that will become an ever more important supplier of energy to the EU. They should look at European regulation and see to what extent that accounts for poor performance. They should identify the areas of economic excellence in the EU and try to get the lagging regions to learn from the success stories They should look at tax.None of this is very difficult It is basic economic reform stuff Why not get on with it? More from Hamish McRae. On Radio 3 this week, they are broadcasting the entire works of Beethoven, and nothing else It is wall-to-wall Beethoven for seven days.

It is wall-to-wall Beethoven for seven days. Quite how Beethoven knew, 200 years ago, that his published output would last exactly a week on Radio 3 two centuries later is just one of the many mysteries that still surround this monumental figure.Anyway, today I, too, am devoting my entire column to Beethoven with some little-known stories about the great composer.One night, Beethoven was returning home through the deserted late-night streets of Vienna when he was approached by a footpad with a cosh."Your money or your life," said the criminal.Beethoven, already quite deaf, heard nothing and walked on. The footpad ran after him and barred his way."Your money or your life!" he roared."I am sorry," said Beethoven. "I have no wife.""I said, your money or your life!" repeated the assailant."Nor do I have a mummy," said Beethoven. "I am entirely without female relatives.""Aagh!" said the criminal, striking his brow in frustration. He forgot however that he had a cosh in his hand and knocked himself senseless."Unless," said the composer, bending over his would-be assailant solicitously, "you count a female cousin who lives in Mannheim, though I must say I have not seen her for years."But the man said nothing."Dummkopf," said Beethoven, and walked on.In his early life, Beethoven had much admired Napoleon but then, as is well known, had become disenchanted when the diminutive Corsican proclaimed himself Emperor.After the Moscow disaster of 1812, when it became plain that the writing was on the wall for Napoleon, someone suggested to Beethoven that he should celebrate his downfall with an 1812 Overture."You are crazy!" said Beethoven."The public find it hard enough to follow music when I write in 9/8. How do you think they would receive something in 18/12? Dummkopf !"Sometimes, when Beethoven had a deadline to meet for a commissioned composition, he would try to make do with only four hours sleep at night.

When asked how he managed to wake up after four hours, he said that he used a metronome."How can a metronome wake you up?" came the awed question."It's simple," said Beethoven. "I have a metronome that, when fully wound up, goes back and forth for four hours till the spring goes down. I wind it up when I go to sleep, and when it stops, it wakes me up.""Do you mean," asked the enraptured admirer, "that you are so sensitive that you can actually sense the absence of the ticking?""No," said Beethoven. "I mean that when it stops, the weight makes it overbalance and it falls on my head and wakes me up, you Dummkopf."When Beethoven was a young man and could still hear well, he liked to go out drinking with friends. One day, he and three companions were standing at a bar with a glass of beer each, and Beethoven idly struck each of the glasses with a pen he was holding.To his amazement, the four notes so produced sounded almost exactly like the beginning of a piano sonata he was working on, though not quite.He called the barman over and pointed to his own glass."This is a bit flat," he said."Shouldn't be," said the barman "It's from a new barrel I put it on myself this morning. Can I try?"And without waiting for an answer, he sipped a bit from the glass."Nothing wrong with that," he said "Spot on."Beethoven tapped the glass again "You know, you're quite right," said the composer "It's dead in tune now.""Dummkopf," said the barman More from Miles Kington. High costs of housing and retail rents have led to 'clone towns' High costs of housing and retail rents have led to 'clone towns' Sir: The real cause of "clone towns" ("Clone attack? The two sides of High Street, UK", 7 June) has been the extortionate rents charged by landlords, and the high rates which are based on the market value of retail properties.These have been forced up because of the inexorable rise in house prices.