The bit about weather avoidance - 999 times out of a thousand I'll say "OK" if someone wants to avoid weather but in a busy TMA it's sometimes a case of hit a storm or hit another plane! What always fascinates me is the totally non-standard way that crews behave in bad weather. Given two identical a/c with the same airline - let's say two BA 757s - one will be quite emphatic that he wants to turn in 5 miles whilst the other goes straight on without a word! With our typical UK weather this isn't a one-off; it happens time and time again. I'll still do my utmost to accommodate but it'll still amuse me when it happens!!