TONY: Nice to be heard! Apologies for my extended absence, but life has a way of pushing you down the stairs and tap dancing on your still twitching body for an hour or so until the ambulance arrives. It's been a particularly nasty year, but hopefully things are starting to take a turn for the better.

Delighted to have you back, but very sorry to hear the cause of the long silence. I hope life will carry you onwards and upwards from now on.

The Schulz cartoon is superb. Perhaps I should ask permission to use it on our home page!