I won't be too hard on myself...just a lick of the cat o' nine tails before retiring to my bed of nails:0

I agree. Weather modification has been widely reported in mainstream media over the last few years, yet nobody wants to believe it. It's easier to get people to believe that Elon Musk can reach Mars😂

Hahaha, thank you... and you’re not so bad yourself. You certainly raise the intellectual level of debate around these parts; a perfect counterbalance to the nonsensical ravings of nutters like me.

Ah, you’re playing my tune. But without all those fat, unhealthy people, the lithe and slender among us wouldn’t get to feel nearly so smug :)

I haven't kept a diary since I was a child and caught my father in my bedroom reading mine and having a good laugh. Naturally, it was all about him and my mother and how many times a week they were drunk:)

Hahah. It seems we agree on many things.

Oh I know. I'm a little genius:)

Your tree branch put me in mind of canes, and the story wrote itself. Thanks for that 🙂 Caning was widely practised in schools here in the 60s and 70s. It certainly promoted obedience, but it did absolutely

Hahaha, an excellent piece of writing indeed but alas, no punchline.

Thanks a lot @nikv. You're very kind.

Hahaha, ya got me! I also bought a house that came with about 20 waterproof jackets, innumerable pairs of crocs and a lot of jumpers and cardigans. I have the Wellingtons for my brother on next year's

From the age of about six, I was tasked with getting my brother to nursery each morning by bus and then bussing it back to school. In those days public transport was pitiful, so I was always late, frequently

That's one hell of a lot of clothes! I've bought the sum total of zero clothing this year and probably last year too...but then, I rarely leave the house:)

Is that because it's the final line?😆😆

Mine:

The mind boggles at what essentials one could possibly pick up at a festival:)

Did you not get the clue in the word 'Busy?' 😃😂😅

Colloquial Irish word for an idea or observation.

A beautiful, uplifting story that puts me in mind of one of my father's favourite quotes, "If we don't all hang together, we'll all hang separately".

😃What's a good spy! No consequences and almost as much satisfaction.