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.

[Rosie] ...unless it showed up in a pie you were eating, no?

(Tuj) Your are confusing mince with mincemeat, for which there is little excuse.

[Rosie] Not as bad as today's BBC news website (the front page story about the re-introduction of Moose to the Scottish Highlands) and their Science reporter confusing 'ungulates' with 'undulates'. Schoolboy error. I've emailed them about it already...
Oooh, and Polly Toynbee has replied in person to my quick email in praise of her column in this morning's Guardian, hehehehe! :o)

[Rosie] Both go in varying types of pies, no?

I appear to have developed an annoying peech habit, no?

(Tuj) Not to mention a typo habit, yes? It must be a bad day. :-) (pen) Pah! Small beer! I have received a personally-signed apology from none other than Ian Hislop for a very sick crossword clue in Private Eye, even if it did only consist of two words.

[Rosie] Now you must share the clue, so that we may all be properly shocked and outraged.

[Rosie] I find it hard to imagine you as Outraged of South London".

[Rosie] I should have seen that coming really. Ah well. Do carry on ;)

End of day, ready to go home, I put "stilletto (misspelt) gerundive" into Google, got a single hit and it was you. Hello. Now I feel I have come home: will you have me?

[MD] Only if you're wearing socks.

(Raak) All right. The answer was spittle and clue involved Hawking. Filth is OK, good even, but don't mock the afflicted. The apology said "Point taken" and my guess is there were more than a few of them to be signed by the splendid Hislop, from which one cam infer that he had a word or two in the crossword setter's ear. (Softers) South London!!!??? That's outrageous! I'm in Surrey (just). (Me Dick) Well, personally, I'd rather not but there must be somebody and we are by nature co-operative.

For "cam" read "can". One can get awfully obsessed by Caprotti Valve Gear.

[pen] Yes, that was a good column. [All] I think Stilletto (Misspelt) Gerundive is an excellent game idea. Maybe Simons can get working on the rules.

Instinctively I feel this would be a good game but what would be its aim? (CdM, pen) Toynbee's piece made a number of good points but by her standards was a bit ranty.

[Rosie] Yes, I see what you mean.

I've just completed my first bit of freelance writing for about 10 years - successs! And sent out the bill too... The lucky client, with a Monday-morning deadline to meet, found me online yesterday afternoon and got me working on a Saturday evening. We did the final edit this morning. Now I'm going to finish the ironing, which doesn't pay half so well.

Here's hoping everything went smoothly.

You may now find it is sometimes possible to go back and edit your last move. Any oddities, let me know. I think I've closed the loophole which would have allowed an infinite number of new games to have been started.

No, I meant this is a test. It works!

[pen] Well done!

[Rab] That 'whoops' thingy made me jump when I posted earlier. It reminded me of that vaguely guilty feeling when one sees a policeman. It compelled me to re-read my post just in case I'd said something a bit wrong.

[pennylope] Me haven't done freelance writing since ooh ... way back when ... so much respect :-)

[Chalky] Hmm... I wonder if that's a desirable side-effect or not. I'm sure we'll get used to it!