Sorry all, I went to bed last night!
Moomin - I don't quite Knowe about the yew tree, as it hasn't been pruned in a while, but yes, it might have been Noah once upon a time. Do you think I should be worried?
Balloon, the wife who got a raw deal, I was meaning poor old Mrs Gulliver!
Jelly - I love Brat toooooooooooo!!! In fact he makes me swoon throughout most of the book, especially when he's talking about his leg mending short (sob sob). Funnily enough I was going to do "AIBU to send a personable young man along to impersonate my neighbour's dead nephew?" but I was waiting until the Franchise Affair had gone past a bit as I didn't want to make the link!
We are going away for the weekend now, far, far from the civilising influence of Mumsnet so I must thank you all for a marvellous couple of days and wish you good guessing. I haven't had so much fun in ages!
(Shame the DCs had to make their own supper, put themselves to bed and generally fend for themselves. Still, it could have been worse, I could have got lost for 6 months or so and left them to cook chicken in a hay box and live in a barn, while everyone presumed I was dead, eh?)
You are all very clever and funny ladies (and possibly gents but I am guessing from the books on offer, probably mostly ladies )
TYV
xx
PS one last one before I go - don't think it's been done before:
My grandson is a bumbling buffoon with a stammer and various physical disabilities. AIBU to completely discount any possibility of a political career? He is, frankly, an embarrassment to our very high profile family.