We would like to apologise to readers for the break in transmission which was due to circumstances beyond our control. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

In other words; she was knackered, I was knackered and we just couldn't summon up the energy required to whitter on a bit. Now, my writing partner can do guilt like no-one else I know and last week I responded to the 'But what about the readership?' (you lot really need to put more work into your acting skills, let's try that again - this time with feeling!) 'But what about the readership?' Better - with an 'Oh all right then, I'll do it.' And I really did mean to, and I started on numerous occasions - Okay twice - to do it but then something more important happened and I forgot. Yes, I finally got Series 3 of NCIS on DVD. I'm sorry but Jethro Gibbs is addictive and not bad to look at either.

So last night during our usual witty and enlightening round of emails she sneakily slapped me one round the ear while I wasn't fully paying attention and I've promised to do better this week.

Sooooo. Any news anyone? Anything interesting happening to any of you? Nowt? Bit like here then.

Eldest child - One and Only Daughter - and I have had a minor disagreement in that I foolishly handed the Eldest Son's girlfriend, Eldest Child's endearment. Yes I know, rubbish explanation. I'll try again. In our house there are days when I wonder why we bothered pouring over all those baby name books trying to find the name for each one. Our children rarely get these names attached to them but instead put up with all the daft family labels which appear over time. Thus Eldest Child - One and Only Daughter - has for most of her life been Wee Toots, Eldest Son - Herbert - (my father- in- law's fault that one) Middle son - Hattie (always has had a penchant for hats and it rhymes with his real name) - and Youngest child - Wee cub. Then they start bringing folk home with them and sometimes a woman can get a bit confused. Eldest Son's girlfriend obviously needs one of her own now because as I answered her wail of 'Mum, there's no peanut butter in the cupboard,' I replied ' For goodness sake,it's sitting on the worktop, use your eyes, Wee Toots.' Eldest Child - her who thinks she has now been usurped in the affection stakes was not impressed, especially as Wee Toots (mark 11) exited the cupboard with a bag of chocolate raisins which had been bought especially because they are her (Mark 11's) favourites. The BigLad added flames to the fire by returning from his latest trip with exactly the same presents for both girls. Apparently we've forgotten that she was here first and that they're not one and the same. Oops green eyed monster anyone? It would seem that Eldest Child will grudgingly let the other Wee Toots share her brother but the parents shouldn't be part of the deal and her 'name' is definitely not on the table.


Saturday brought Harry Potter - eventually. We live in the country, back of beyond territory, and are always last in line for the post van. Unfortunately for the Postie Saturday was like the last delivery day before Christmas Eve. This information was gleaned as I was consoling him after he nearly lost his fingers when O&O D snatched the parcel from his hand. In her defence it was now well into the afternoon and everyone else had already started finding out what was happening. One of the children from further along the road had been worse - he hadn't even been able to get out of the van when she demanded hers with menaces, a glare and a 'What kept you?' The man needed to go home for a lie down.

So she read it - I could tell every time there was a tense moment by the cut of her face, I've read it - everyone could tell there was a tense moment by the swift intake of breath and now Mark 11 is reading it. But she's so slow and it still has to make the rounds of the rest so O&OD and I have been reduced to discussing what has happened in corners, looking over our shoulders like dodgy criminals planning a heist. The Rainbow Slider is only on page 33 or some such and no-one else has finished it. I am going to burst if I don't get to discuss this soon.


Okay Sue, honey bunch, I blogged. Now can I go back to writing Smut and watching NCIS? Good. That's me by the way - I'm the good one!

Pooksx