Speaking of the local folk club, it's doubtful I'll be able to fulfil my contract tonight - I was out with the band rehearsing last night, and it hardly seems fair to complain about being CTB when The Memsahib's in For'n Parts, and then bugger off out two consecutive nights when she's at home!

I will adopt my 'martyr's' tone of voice, and frequently look at my watch and sigh heavily as 7:30 (my setting-off time) approaches, but she's a hard woman and will almost certainly ignore me (or, most likely, glare at me through her wine-glass, silently daring me to have the nerve to ask her to sign my pass-out docket)!