A fire at Burnham - how appropriate (not that that will make you feel any better).  So will you go to Waterloo, and thence to Reading the slow way before making your way back up the WR main line?  Are you old enough to remember when the old oil depot at Langley caught fire and the mainline was closed for a couple of days? I was commuting into Padd when Southall and the second one occurred. There aren't many alternatives, sadly.

Not the wood? or am I thinking of Birnam?

I have a deeply Grumpy Rant, or maybe I`m just being oversenstive. I`ve been ill since last Friday with what I initially thought was `flu, but turned out to be a kidney infection. I`ve had these before, excruciatingly painful, ferocious temperature that practically makes you delusional. Just before it got really bad I texted a `friend` to say I was unwell.

Now this person is rather given to diva-ish tendencies, in fact at work her (very secret) nickname is  La Diva. This morning I got a rather petulant e mail saying `You seem to be ignoring me for some reason and I  would appreciate an explanation of why. If that is not the case, then can you please try harder?` I goggled at the screen in disbelief. Explanation? Try harder?  At what?   I`ve been off my head for nearly a week. The only person I`ve spoken to has been my fellow and he kept the calls brief because he could tell how exhausted I was. What a bloody imposition! Aside from my being ill, she is well aware that my mother died just over a month ago and I`m up to my eyes sorting out the aftermath. Talk about self-absorbed. I got a late night tear stained phone from her last Thursday, not the first but it may well have been the last.

As you can see, I`m back in the world again, although in the light of that `tantrum` e mail, being off my head for bit almost seems pleasant, even though it wasn`t.

Hi Morticiaa, I am glad you are back on board. I could not understand where you have gone.
I am not as wise and witty as some people who will soon come, but I am reading your post now and I am sympathizing. You have so much things happen in  short time. I think you got so sick because of stress. And I sure have my share of friends like yours. And what is more I don't know what to do with them as I don't want to hurt them or can not decide what to do with them.
So I am not good for any wise advise, but I am feel for you and I want to put some kind of spell that will repell bad things from you (friends and other things).
I wish you get back to normal and come more often on the board.
We have new smileys which I just discovered and good music and talk. Come and leave unpleasant people behind.

Ho and HO, MorticiaaaAAA.  I'm truly happy to see you back here and distressed that you have had,not flu, but something very nasty.  You must take care of yourself more and ignore any friends and colleagues who exhibit selfish and unthinking tendencies.  My wife had a friend who always had problems though of a very minor sort indeed.  On and off for about three years she would have spates of ringing every night for a week or two at 10'30" p.m. asking for advice and regardlesss of how anybody else felt. She never ever took any advice and we learned that she also rang other friends on the same evenings.  In the end I disconnected the phone at 9'00" every night and that put a stop to it.  Stick with those that have your welfare and interests at heart Mort  -  like wot we all have here for you.  Have some chocolates.
Cheers S'wave

Oh poor, Mort. That sounds just horrible. I was rather worried that you had been silent for a while (not that posting here is the be all and end all of life of course ). What a really nasty thing to have. Funny things kidneys. They take their time. Glad to hear the worst is over but do take care to recover properly before you head back to work or anything like that.

There's a chaise-longue in the Happy Room with a good view of the garden. That sounds the place for you at the moment. 

xx

Mort, you really must take care of yourself! Being wretched mentally and physically at the same time isn't good for you at all, so please make sure you keep yourself warm and cosy and pamper yourself with things that won't exacerbate matters.
Please keep us posted, and get as much grump out of your system as you can!

Ron XXXXXxxxxxxxxxXXXXXXXXX