Ups and downs here, I see.
Nogs, good to hear that you and HL are feeling better. And bravo to the Noggles Down Under, who are most certainly upholding the honour of the regiment! 
All that AND good news from the taxman---this is going to be a good year for you, for sure!
And XB, good that you have left the manflu behind there. If you can enjoy 4 miles again, you're deffo moving in the right direction
Not so good that Melds is facing tough choices (like: air or food) but reckon Yums is right, and if that's really your option, it's breathing every time 
Bit of a shame, tho, as you don't really want to be off the road for long just now if you can help it. Beterschaap, as they say in the flatlands!
Westie, good to see you around! And don't worry, we all have those CBA times. Just glad to know you're still going strong (8 miles 
and not snowed in.
Sluggie, really hope your friend's appeal is dealt with quickly and sensibly. Her case is an example of where bureaucracy is not only stupid, but insensitive and unkind. Glad to know she has you to support her. Keep us posted, please.
Spence, that's a scary story. I know in principle you're supposed to keep the door on the chain when you open it at night, but who does? Glad it worked out OK for your friends.
Snaily, your audit will be fine. You've already brought a lot of needed focus and energy to your department, they're lucky to have you! And good for doing so well with the new regimen. Don't know if it's just me, but weirdly I want to eat much less when I exercise regularly, so maybe getting back to running will help too.
Podds and DL, having read your jokes I don't think I am speechless (although in this country they have sections in the meat dept labelled 'pork', 'beef' 'horse' and don't think anything of it. Being a veggie, happily, I am out of it all!)
Spence, what kind of roller did you get? I keep thinking about it but haven't got one yet.
Yums, sadly, consigning your sis to the Locked Room is the best you can do. (My SIL is in there too, along with Tubs' mum and Spence's sis, but there's plenty of room left Eventually you will stop feeling angry and hurt and just be sad for her: she is hurting herself more than anyone else, and probably won't realise it until it's too late to put right. It's quietly tragic.
Well, we left the flatlands at 6.15 and 9 inches of snow (our small street was horrible, luckily Mr C only had to drive a couple of hundred years) but then main roads OK even though traffic was slower than normal. Arrived about 7 last night to find..... 6 inches of snow! The last 8 km on one-lane, ungritted, twisty, climbing country road was not cute, but luckily Mr C was driving. It's very pretty, but the whole place is glassy today so we aren't going out in the car at all. As usual, I brought/left enough food for several days (soup, bread etc): Mr C has been telling me for year's I'm an idiot, but guesss who's happy it's here now!!
