T minus 1 week and counting

For reasons which will be explained later, I have spent much of the evening browsing eBay, and purchasing strange objects - including a bell jar, an "Abraham Lincoln" costume (beard not necessary), and a velvet coat. I've also spent far longer than I wanted to looking at the National Valve Museum.

I wish to apologise to Tim & Peter for being glued to my laptop for rather too long this evening! At least we had a lovely meal out. Even if I was watching the Italian football (it had lots of men hugging and kissing each other, ok? It's rather distracting :P).