Not much time to think never mind write here. The week has been full of trips up and down the road to visit g'son in hospital and a whole-day trip to the nearest MRI scanner in the back of a very rattly ambulance. Scan showed nothing wrong which is great except that it only scanned part of his spine and there obviously IS still something wrong since he is still in pain. It's all very frustrating. Sandy is becoming institutionalised but doesn't seem as depressed as he was for a while which is a relief.

We've met some interesting people as a result of his incarceration. A 15 year old German robotics engineer (he was invited to a convention in China on robotics he told us) who was at Gordonstoun for one term only and broke his leg in 2 places during his last ever rugby match. It must be hard for his school and parents to know what to do with one so bright to stop him being bored. Hospital was boring for him because he couldn't get onto the internet but he was nice to Sanders, and a jolly sort so it was quite nice for us visitors having him there too. The doctors - well, they've been English, Scots, Indian, Dutch and Egyptian so far. Orthopeadic specialists, and paediatric specialists and neurologists - and that's just the list to date.

I commend myself for having posted five parcels, one 3' high (dragon) and I've almost written my cards. There were plans to make some but that went out the window as usual.

The shop is doing well when I'm in it, but I wish folk would stop saying 'It's such a shame you're closing.' Bah humbug! Where were you blighters all year?