I don't know what to say to anty, other than I realise it is a tricky and distressing situation.

The current Dean of Guildford is a Victor, and one of the campest clergymen in the Church of England, and there's plenty of competition.

We had a lovely straight priest from Ghana at my church, while he completed his PhD in London, who was callled Victor.  He always embraced my other half when he turned up at my church like a long lost friend. He must have been a total saint to cope with my vicar.

My nephew (who does double duty as my godson) is called Ashley. I don't think I've thought about it as being unusual before.

Theodopolous?

One of our branches has been closed due to collapse of housing market.  Admittedly it was the smallest one and did not do any professional or agricultural work.  We have also had some redundancies.

On a happier note (referring back to my previous Grump yesterday) my brother has contacted me) and he is at not death's door and he is to see the Specialst again in November.

Good news Anty on that front at least.   There are a lot of redundancies in this area and I think next year will be worse if the news is anything to go by.  Apparently, according to the experts, 2009 is going to be a bit grim. 

I was shocked by Gordon Brown's appearance on the news!  He looks absolutely exhausted.  I don't think he has got anything like the stamina of Tony Blair. 

Thanks Guys    Just had another conversation with him now, he was not at home because he was on a weekend course with his Spanish Studies!!

His ex, knowing how much I love him, was trying to manipulate me emotionally for her own ends, and exaggerate things so that's her off the Christmas Card list!!

I thought Gordon Brown looked exhausted as well and as for the redundancies, I don't think anyone's job is safe as the moment, unless you are in certain professions.  I see Halifax are going to shut 53 of their offices by the end of the year.

Marty, I am always Ok with my bro, he is a lot older than me but we are two of a kind and very close.

He wasn't married to her, no children are involved.  He has had two (short lived) wives though! 

It's my other bro who is a fambly problem at the moment (and has been for some years) and that stems from acrimonious divorce which has been back and forth to the High Court (shades of Jarndyce & Jarndyce) and the Judges always find in her favour and that has caused a major fambly split (instigated by himself) and him cutting himself off from my sister and myself and his children.

I comfort myself that HRH The Queen may have the most dysfunctional family amongst The Crowned Heads of Europe but we (The Heirs to Owain Glendwr's Throne)  could run her a close second!! 

My sister (Ye Gods!  How many members of the Ants family are there I hear you say?) I must say has remained married to the same man. 

My Great Grandma left Abergwynfi and her family (my Great Grandpa and Grandpa) and ran off to Barry Island with a Richard Jenkins.  My Grandpa from Abergwynfi then ran off with someone from Blunsdon St. Andrews in Wiltshire.  My Great Uncle Edward left the pit and joined the Merchant Navy and settled with his boyfriend in Hawaii.  One of my Great Grandpas married his brother's widow's sister.  My Grandma evidently committed bigamy.

And there is more!  But you see, the Welsh have passion!    Or else it is the genes - a roving we must go!!

I'm slightly cheered about daughter-in-law not wanting to know the sex of the baby, because other visiting son has just told me that someone at work has just had a boy......after being told she was having a girl!!!