Good heavens SITARA, Boy, did I miss you and your infectious sense of humour. Thank you-thank you loads for dropping by. Long-long time indeed, madam. Welcome back. ****************** Anon, What can I say about the humour-bites your posts bring with them? Had not read one from you in a long while and 'sheesh/dyam', did it make my day. Goodness gracious! The ZINGAS saga from the outback was really funny. :) You must keep us abreast of your surfing trips hai - no, not about your Sajha-surfing of course. Pukka surfing. Thank you. Gudday mate. ******************** Nepaali, A botched weekend indeed. I know, I didn't miss much, considering the drippy mausam. Oh the whale - how very sad. Extraordinary spectacle in the Thames as the rescue attempt got under way. People crowded around the bank in sheer numbers, and like I, millions more watched the unfolding scene with interest as the news was beamed live on tele. They couldn't save the animal despite their best effort. Really moving. Wits of steel? Thank you madam but there're times when the 'steel' is not quite so steely hai - it does tend to start melting! Yours truly is also a mere mortal, you see! So, forget the 'halos and wings', and besides, Saint Sandhurst must seem like a weird name, don't you think? :) Sorry to hear that it wasn't a good weekend for you too but hope, the rain will gradually subside. Hey, I'm super-duper busy today. Will write again hai ta. Art appreciation notes to follow in due course. This plus Tennessee Williams. Poor old man turning in his grave eh. :) Oh, this funnily reminds me of the birthdays of two cultural icons. Today is Robert Burns's (The Scottish mahaa-kavi) birthday - there's a party that I have got to attend. A big day in our annual calendar. There's then Mozart - Salzburg's most famous son - who will turn 250 this Friday. His birthday is being observed across Europe with pomp and shows - the celebration started weeks in advance. I will be spending time watching BBC shows and listening to Radio 4. Carpe diem