A very, very kind reader bought me a book from my amazon wishlist. As the email that came with the book is a rather general one I cannot thank him personally. So Richard, thank you ever so much. It was a big surprise, and certainly brightened up a rather gloomy evening last night.

As i have always said, my readers are THE BEST!

I did a little more on my tma - only about 1000 words to go. So it is possible that this could be done in two weeks, which gives me at least a week to rewrite and revise.

Anyway, in Richard's note he said that i never fail to touch him. What a kind thought. Sometimes i'm aware of how sad and pathetic this can be. It is not an entirely accurate depiction of me, although all the facts are true.

Dave Baker said that he admired the way I never gave up. I've been close to that point several times, I guess i can now recognise and get whatever help i need. And generally, if ther is something that troubles me, i try to be proactive and do something about it. Tired of being single? I join a dating agency and go speed-dating. It hasn't proved fruitful, but at least I'm trying.

But sometimes it does all get a bit much. The envy that I feel for people whom i percieve to have an ideal life...