I used to suffer much more from lactose intolerance than I do now, and I think the improvement is due to a dramatic change in my health since I started a new asthma therapy. It's three and a half years since my last bout of bronchitis, previously a semi-annual event, so it is also three and a half years since I last took a course of the wicked antibiotic that not only knocks out even the worst case of bronchitis but also does a number on my intestinal economy.

I still avoid ordinary milk in any quantity; I can take as much as is required for a cup of tea, but no more unless it is treated with lactase. Fortunately, lactose-free milk is now common in Ottawa supermarkets, for which I thank the growing ranks of Asian and African immigrants among our neighbours.