John, Yeah, long time no 'see'. I've been away for a while - work commitments plus a few travelling stints that I have done in between and over the holidays. I trust that your Christmas/new year was good and that the festive period proved to be a restful one for both you and your family. Mine was a pretty humble affair except a few dos that I went to. Nothing particularly fancy. Great to be back. Have a good day. ************* Hi to Nepaali and Flipu too, Nepaali, Long time no 'see'. I'm on page 16 of 'On Beauty' at the mo - see, I've been a bad boy over Christmas; did no reading despite having had the opportunity. Too busy poncing out and about - that's why. On 'On Beauty' - I must admit that I am starting to like Jerome Besley more than others and wonder whether he will turn out to be just like the pot-smoking/white chicks-shagging Millat Iqbal, or even the latter's nerdy Anglicised twin brother, Magid. Let's wait and see. And how about the good old Howard Besley? Howie rather. Wait a minute but does not he sound a bit like the neurotic Marcus Chalfen, the 'mouse' man? Where are you, Kiki darling? Dammit, come tell us all about him, will you? Yeah about the weird coffee-drinking half-toff English sod who also happens to be your other-friggin-half, a.k.a. err your hubby? :):) Samad/Alsana/Millat/Magid - a bunch of lunatic Iqballs eh! Ik-ball - is this how you pronounce their name? Funny accent. Yeah right, is dis how de Kwin's bloody Inglish suppos to look like or what? Ik-bloody-ball eh. Excuse my French! :) :) Have a good day. Carpe diem