My dedicated readers are concerned. I haven't blogged my bloggiest in a few days. The reason is simple - I've been flat out shopping until I (literally) drop getting the last of the kids things sorted for their trip to Australia next week and I've sort of worn myself out with all the racing around.

Only, they might not be aren't going next week cos my friend who is taking them is busy sitting at the bedside of her father who is dying. So we are waiting to see whether he dies and is buried in time for the trip to take place it has been postponed until next school holidays.

Doesn't that sound awful - waiting for him to die. The poor man's body is so worn out that it's a miracle he's still here at all, but still he hangs on in his coma and, of course, a holiday to the Gold Coast is very much a secondary consideration for everyone at this point in time. The kids are fine with it, they understand what is important and what can be postponed a few months.

Sometimes, the dying gets in the way of the living. And that is how it should be.

Normal service will be resumed when my head stops hurting. Y'all come back now, ya hear?