Mr Gargoyle, I don't quite comprehend what your message means - spit and mud??? You're from a small village, aren't you. ;) I live in Sydney Australia - home of the excited Japanese tourist and suspect flotsam and jetsam.

Thanks Alison and Big Mick for sharing your thoughts. You are both very special people. Big Mick, glad you think some of the "crust" has broken away - I think you were virtually crustless anyway - I hope to eventually meet someone as wise and wonderful as you.

This has been such an amazing thing - I felt so gray and foggy yesterday - confused and upset enough to plead for attention in the Mudcat forum (oh dear, I am writing another essay-like entry - sorry). I feel as though I know you all and yet, you are all over the world in places I have never seen and probably never heard of. Yet, you know how I feel. In danger of becoming painfully soppy and sentimental here but "the world is a small place". Hugs for everyone!