University of Milton North, Thornton Institute of Cotton Technology

[SupermassiveLBD]

just a portakabin maybe, till we can find a proper building?

Am back in one pice and have been looking at Twigs photo forum...Can I just point out

this

...and this

...and this

...lucky, lucky woman

Bugger - meant to preview first - MIL on the phone now distracting me...

Not wishing to be a drama queen harbinger of doom, according to the BBC's tsunami warning map the wave appears to be headed straight for the North Island of NZ just after 5pm tonight UK time.

I would imagine it would lose a far bit of its ooomph by then though?

I haven't seen the news but this was Japan earlier. Just awful.

Warning for NZ and Taiwan lifted

Hi Small - am just listening to the BBC reports online at the moment.

How are you today? Hope you're feeling a bit less stressed with it almost being the weekend !

Thanks for the pic selection, Spiro. Another nice one of Gizzy, and the second one as himself, with that smile, is very special.

I am glad you are still in one piece after your MIL's visit with the plumber. A shame she couldn't have had your DIY expert of choice in tow, instead. Or JS perhaps, he seems to know his way round a toolkit.

Earlier on, NZ media were saying they were not expecting anything much beyond rough seas. Thoughts and prayers though for everyone along the Rim that will be affected.

It is horrendous - can't even begin to imagine what the people involved must be going through. I've not seen much in the way of news reports, but it looks like the tsunami is going to be more devestating than the earthquake itself.

Chapter Five for anyone at a lose end this afternoon .

...or even a loose end - have been writing for 3 hours and not had lunch yet which is clearly affecting my brain

As inveterate owner of a very loose end I am off to read this with an even bigger on my face --- so I won't have to wrestle with my own pesky stuff. Thanks, Spiro!

I don't know about loose ends but I could be a very loose woman if the right person came my way

Oh, thud. how utterly delicious at the end, nice bit of thumb porn there, Spiro.

Great characterisation all through, though, the teenage Lisa down pat, and the local buxom blonde Rosie, you can see her and smell her in her cloud of perfume wonder what she uses, something on offer at the dutyfree, 2000cl for 5p. maybe? and Bacardi.

Very clever use of her though to waken Carol up to what she has got there in John. Nothing like realising someone else wants him to highlight his potential.

And some little hints to pique our curiosity. What did John get from the jewellers, and what did he ask Andrew's father for? And what is Carol going to tell John now?

Can't wait for more. But don't feel under any pressure, mind.

Oooooohhhhh, so many questions to be answered!!! I can't wait to find out what Carol is going to tell him. :) at "thumb porn", Massive - that was a lovely little touch, Spiro (in both senses of the word!)

Fab stuff! More, more, more!!!

Tbh this is the weirdest thing I've ever written in the sense that I almost feel like I'm not writing it, the characters are, especially the last 2 chapters. Once I've got the first few bits in my head the chapters seem to take on a life of their own.

Believe it or not, the thumb porn (love it btw Massive ) came about completely by accident. John was already on his knees with his arm around her when that bit 'happened'. I nearly took it out for fear of it being a bit cliched but as our man does thumb porn so well I decided it would be churlish not to have a bit of fun with it.

Am desperate to keep going but DD & H are home now do not sure when I'll get the chance over the next couple of days.

Would be interested to hear your theories re the unanswered questions...

Just dashing off to a quiz night but I think he wanted a photo of Andrew from Mr Lawton.

Back again after a bit of compulsory RL. What Twiggy said, on the subject of the unanswered questions. I think he has bought her a locket or something, too, to put it in...I don't know what CArol is about to tell him, though.

Spiro, it's strange indeed that you mention the characters taking over and writing it for you, because it all flows so naturally as if that is indeed what has happened.

I love it when the writing goes swimmingly like that, it's a very special feeling. I know they're hardly thr same things but most of the romps I wrote to put on here more or less wrote themselves too. My trouble starts when I am trying to be serious and levelling with my potential readers, instead of having a bit of a laugh. Perhaps you could give me some tips on how to make the transition!

I am hoping there is good news soon from Maud about GardenGirl. Both of them sound very miserable indeed, and I bet even a won't be much help, nowadays.

Evening ladies. Spiro you are reeling me in but I need more!!

Another busy day here and I am absolutely shattered. I hope I sleep tonight or Tomorrow I will be very grumpy.

Hello, Small. Here's a warm milky drink to help you relax a bit. Shall we sling s slug of the cordial in it for good measure?

Or maybe one of these will do a better job of helping you sleep.

Blimey Massive - that certainly wouldn't help me sleep (at least I sincerely hope not )!

Hi Small - have you got a fairly chilled out weekend ahead (notwithstanding the mini Smalls!)?

Might be a bit more bedtime story later, but not at all sure it'll be sleep inducing (I hope not anyway!).

Have you seen the thread about songs that make you cry? I was just debating starting one for favourite love songs (having a mushy five minutes after all the writing I've been doing today).

Has just occured to me to look up 'Arms of Orion' by Prince on Spotify which I have loved but not heard for years.

Spiro, there is a radio program for insomniacs like me that I listen to when i am in the UK, called Up All Night .

Songs that make you cry? One has to be Fix You, doesn't it, with the tears streaming down your face.

For a love song I rather like ...

I was supposd to be going out tomorrow night but I hav cancelled, I don't have the energy so will try to relax as much as poss this weekend but it's my brain in overdrive and that's hard to switch off.

Massive, Fix You makes me cry. But not for the reasons you are talking about!

That's lovely Massive - you really can't beat the original with Roberta Flack singing.

It's a bit cheesy but I do love 'Crazy for You' by Madonna.

Have been thinking about this as I have had a trip down memory lane this afternoon, trying to find a song for Carol & John. would be a strong contender having been in the charts Christmas 2002.

I'm sure I have stumbled across 'Up All Night' many a time - it's one of the reasons I decamp to the living room, rather than the spare bedroom if I can't sleep. More choice of radio stations without disturbing anyone, and hot drinks and wheat bag warming facilities next door in the kitchen .

Hello ladies. Just passing through. Were you talking about favourite love songs? I pride myself on being an old boot tough as old boots, but this and the film it comes from always makes me blub. .

::Goes in search of lace-trimmed hankie::