Gloom, despondency and barking in the Inferiority Complex: how do I manage to be supportive without giving in to the urge to whack DP on the back of the head?

[motherinferior]

To be fair (which I'm not very often) DP has every reason to be gloomy and despondent. In fact, given that he nursed his mother through her terminal illness at the end of last year, he is having a lot of work hassle and he was attacked recently, it would be rather alarming if he wasn't (as no doubt he'd just run amok in a supermarket with an Uzi in a year's time). But it is stressful to live with. Especially the constant barking (mainly at me, only very occasionally at the Inferiorettes); and particularly since despite my occasional impression of a sympathetic person on MN, I am very bad at being a selfless helpmeet in real life. I have made lots of cakes , and try not to shout at him as loudly as I'd like, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Oooh yes, MI deserves her own column, definitely! PSML at 'special' calligraphy.

obviously am big MI fan, but Knight does have her moments (esp on Guy Ritchie/Relocation-Relocation/mequite kettle chips)

i love the handwriting expert who swears by calligraphy! just have visions of one who didn't

"no, no I don't believe in all that penmanship stuff" said handwriting expert Jo King, "it leads to a lack of moral fibre and swearing, in fact, me I like a nice typewriter"

that is indeed perfect

oh yes, I'd wholeheartedly support the MI column