[pen] £7 a fortnight sounds good. Mine was £11 a week and there was enough fruit for ONE DAY.

I've just got a grass-cutting raincheck... unfortunately it also means I can't get the washing dry either. Never mind, it's just nice to be home for a weekend, for a change. And this morning, I am mostly drinking Civet Coffee, or Kopi Luwak, a present from Indonesia.

Chalky] how awful - hope you're recovering and being properly pampered. Are you able to take proper time off to recuperate?

The grass has disappeared under 4 inches of snow but is already reappearing where I've walked on it due to heat from the ground. There'll be a frost tonight, though.

We've had a beautiful day here in south Lincs - cold, but sunny all day. Light frost this morning, but no snow.

As I make dumpings today for the first time in my life, I can't help but feel that Atora has the suet market pretty much sewn up.

Two words that go together like "bunch" and "water".

[Rosie] All we had here was a bit of sleet :O).

(Softers) Today it's all gone except for a little bit of a snowman made by next door's kids.

[rab] I think Lactulose might be a good idea if you've just made dumpings for the first time in your life!

(Phil) I missed that. It would have given me an idea for There, there and everywhere but it's too late now. I will drop the matter.

[Rosie] I was surprised that you, Raak and Software hadn't spotted it (or had, but hadn't commented - that would have been more surprising).

Now I'm a press officer for a conservation charity, I don't think badgers are funny. They cause too many awkward questions from the press.

[pen] You weren't implicated in the jam-slapping scandal, were you?

I know from a friend's experience that when driving a Transit Van at 50 mph, a badger up the radiator grill is about as unfunny as it gets.

For the badger, too.

Badgers are the Holy Cows de nos jours. What's so wonderful about them, great lolloping things? They can be vicious and would make mincemeat of the average dog not that that would bother me.