Auriga, so agree re: 'at least'. I find that as I get older, I am much more inclined to give these sorts of utterances a very sour response. It used to be that I was so worried about other people's feelings that even when they'd just trampled all over mine, I would still not want to hurt theirs. Now I often think, 'Ah, fuck off.' But say something something a bit less.. rudimentary.
BD, excellent news about the impending arrival of Flash (aaah-ah-aaah). But, I've got to ask: why are you getting a hound from Greece? Will you have to talk to him in Greek? 
Rose, sorry to hear about the crap behaviour from your employer. :(
BTM, it is very sad to hear about your dm's state of mind. Is there nothing the docs can do about her medication? Hooray for your ds, though. A lovely boy :)
Dd sent a message over the w/e to say she was homesick and wanted to visit. I said I was sorry that she was feeling down, but I didn't think a visit was a good idea (to put it mildly). It then went quiet again, until this afternoon, when she suddenly messaged to say that she hadn't got her loan money. It transpired that she hasn't actually registered at the university yet. She did her usual trick of going pathetic and saying she was confused and didn't know anything about anything. She refused to register the Friday afternoon I dropped her off and was supposed to do it on the Saturday. Which she clearly didn't do. Of course, now I have found all the important paperwork re: registration (that I printed out for her, with instructions and time frames, natch) and her student finance paperwork, just lying in her room. I put it in a nice plastic folder for her and she just chucked to to one side. And did not listen to one single word of the instructions that I passed on to her about all the admin she needed to do. I don't believe she has been to any of the induction things or any lectures. I don't think she has done anything useful whatsoever. Still, she will either have to crack on and find out how to register or she won't get any money from the student finance people. And as she's not getting any from us, she will start to feel that quite soon. I will never cease to find her attitude entirely extraordinary and extremely annoying. It is really made so easy for them these days, with all the access to online info and "information points" all over the university. I am trying not to despair and instead to hope that one day she will realise if she doesn't pull her finger out and do stuff for herself, no one else will.
Ds is absolutely nothing like this and has been a self-starter since he was tiny, desperate to be independent and get on with things.
Soz, Herbs, I am no good at suggestions on S&B prezzie front. Especially as I've never been to NY and have no clue about it. Apart from it being in America.
Crem, have a brilliant time in Iceland!
MI, thanks so much for the hint about Tom Yum paste. It is indeed yum. And just about the level of hot that I can tolerate.