Mac

Ha, yes. I've just found the thread you're talking about. I'm at the bottom of everyone's list! Anyway, yep, my new job, eh? I'll be working in the Inclusion Unit in a secondary school in Nottinghamshire (about 40 minutes away), alongside 'challenging' teenagers. The job'll involve implementing behaviour management strategies, organising the Duke Of Edinburgh Award, music and drama, that sort of thing. I'm really looking forward to it - I was headhunted!!!

How're things out East? Are you still having a magic time?

Hope you're very well.

Good morning, Frankie. It's been a while since I popped by to say hello to my first friend on here, so here I am, doing just that.

How are you? How's life?

Hoping you're very well. Have a great Sunday. x

Woo hoo! *sounds of pounding feet as Mac dashes in and out again, waving frantically*

You're very welcome. I hope you're having a terrific weekend so far.

Happy birthday, Frankie! I hope yoyu have a brilliant weekend, my friend. Xxx

I am, as you say, reading The Piano Tuner and I'm loving it. Quite idiosyncratic in it's style, which I enjoy. I hope you have a good day!

Worry not, for I did the same thing as well. There's a thread about losing your reading mojo. You should join in, mate. Hope you're well.

Number 1: Hi Sarah. The bird thing sounds like fun. I've built a bird table and some boxes for my garden and enjoy watching all the activity that these bring (cue some rather base jokes referring to different kinds of tits and the food type known as 'fat balls'). I often wonder if I'm a bit sad, standing at the kitchen window, watching the little chaps do their thing...

Hang on...it's not letting me post more than so many words...

*sounds of Mac parachuting in and thrashing about under the fabric*

Gah! How on EARTH is anyone supposed to use these things in a daring rescue?!?

Number 2: What sort of work would you like to be doing? It must be tremendously demoralising being unable to find work - it can't be doing your self-esteem any good at all. I first entered the world of work when I was 21 having finished being a professional musician. I sort of 'fell' into working in a secure hospital, caring for people who were sectioned under the mental health act and had what's known as a dual diagnosis. This means they had both a learning disability and a psychiatric disorder. It was a little rough, but very interesting at times and a lot of fun.

Hang on, it's doing it again...

Ahoy there, Andrea. Just checking in to say "Yo!" and that I hope all is well with you. x

Number 3: I'll be starting my new job in two weeks, working in a main-stream secondary school in an Inclusion Unit. I'm really looking forward to it. I've wroked with learning disabilities for a long time now, and am ready for a change.

I haven't read any of Hal Duncan's novels, but I'm definitely going to buy Vellum, as we seem to have very similar tastes.

I hope you're not so bored, and that you find work very soon.

Keep your chin up, my lovely friend. Mac X

Morning, Ben. How're things with you? Good Christmas? Looking forward to whipping up some funtime on NYE, perhaps throwing some shapes out on a maxed out dance floor to pumping toons with bass that's ripped to the

*and it's at this point that Mac has a seizure, due to the stress of being so hip he can't see his own shoes.

Morning. I have added your recommendations for Swedish authors to my 'Investigate' list. Thank you for the info.

I hope you are very well.

Ayup, Bethany! How are you doing? It's been about...well, at LEAST one thousand years since we said "yo!". How goes it? What's happening? How's Boogie Ville? xx

Eee, but I can be a dolt...x

KELLY!

mmmmmmmmmmWAH! x

Unfortunately, football means nothing to me at all. I've never had much inclination towards sports (although my nickname at school was 'Allsports'...because I was dreadful at all sports). What was the score? Who were they playing? What happened? How does one make an orange sauce, without making it too orange-y?

Things down here are okay, thanks. Looking forward to some friends coming over at Pimm's O'Clock this afternoon, so that'll be fun.

Where do you go to University? What are you studying? Is it fun? How many questions am I asking???

Hoping this finds you very well, Nic.

Mac

Yo ho ho...oh...I'm a bit late for that, aren't I? Anyway, I hope you had a great Christmas (first one as a married couple!) and that you are looking forward to a magic year ahead.

What's new witchoo? x

Sorry to read about your news, chum. I hope all gets sorted before too long, eh!

And you're more than welcome. I really appreciate your visits. x

Woo hioio!

Well, the weather is fine and I'm expecting some friends to come round for some booze mid-afternoon, which'll be fun (I've already prepared my dinner. This is because I just know that I won't be arsed to cook after drinking, and I'll need a solid meal so I'm not rubbish at work tomorrow!) so prior to this, I'm going to mow my lawns! Such unbridled excitement!

Have fun reading, me old chum.

Morning Paula. I can't seem to find The Library Nook on here anywhere to pm her my address for the Charlaine Harris book ring thing. Any ideas?

Hope this finds you tip top.

Happy New Year, Nicola! I missed out on being in your neck of the woods this New Years Eve. We were supposed to be driving up with my folks and six other people to join my Uncle in his restaurant, but I was struck down by the most appalling stomach bug I've encountered in a long time (details would be inappropriate). I was in bed for 6pm, believe it or not. Shame, 'cos I love Newcastle at New Year and it sounds like the snow might've been fun!

What did you get up to? How was your Christmas? How are things going in general? How many more questions am I going to ask? Do I realise that that last one was a question, also? And that one?

Hmmm...stop now, Mac. Stop now.