My birthday is imminent, and I recently told my brother that I neither need nor want anything, so NO SHOPPING. He seemed a bit non-plussed, but I don't travel or do anything new and different, and I can get any book I want (pretty near) on the Kobo (e-reader) with the added advantage that it won't gather dust, so ... !

I think I would like a Roomba (robot vacuum cleaner), however; cleaning is a chore that needs mechanical assistance if ever there was one. When I said as much to Himself, he griped that I could buy it whenever I want and it's hardly a birthday thing. We have different ideas of what birthday thing might constitute.

As for the U.S. post office, I am full of sympathy and more than a little exasperation. I ordered some underwear from an American company back in May and I'm still waiting; first, they were busy making masks, and that was okay, but at least two weeks ago they sent me an email to say that my parcel was in the mail and ... crickets. Good thing I;m not going anywhere near the gym yet.