Mac

Ahoy there, Paula! As previously asked in your reading thread, what's new with you? How's your weekend been? Whatcha been up to? I hope you're very well, my friend. X

Hi there. Just dropping in to say 'Hi there', so I have achieved my objective! I hope you are very well.

Mac

Yo Beef! What's happening, Chief? I trust you're enjoying an excellent Sunday. Because Sunday should be spelled Funday!

I went without booze for nine months last year. I don't know what came over me! The daft thing was, it didn't make me feel any better!

The reason I did it was that I found myself getting home at around 9.30 in the evening, sitting down with a book and a bottle of red, reading until I went to bed at 12.30 - having drunk the bottle. Every night. I began to think that this might not be a good thing. I'm much more sensible about it all now, but it's surprisingly easy to drink a whole bottle of wine over the course of three relaxing hours.

Good luck with the no-booze drive!

Sounds good to me. We'll try and sort something out. Have a great Sunday.

Hi Michelle. Just dropping by to reiterate my thanks for running such a smashing site. It's perfect for me (despite it taking me a short while to work out the why's and wherefore's!!) and I've found so many new authors because of it.

So...

My family has a cottage in Porthleven, near Helston. 'Tis a magic spot. I'm sure that, if you had time, we could meet for a couple of pints. It might be fun. I'll introduce you to my somewhat eccentric girlfriend.

Morning. As it happens, I'm starting an OU course in February, in an attempt to remove this rather unsightly chip from my shoulder. I never went to university, as I had to make a choice between doing just that or touring America with my band.

That's where my three years between 18 and 21 went. I then fell into working in Learning Disabilities and have never qualified for bloody anything. I'm a bright guy, and feel that I have to prove to myself that I actually can get a degree - so I'm studying classical history and philosophy, which'll be good.

How's things down there? I should be coming down for a week in February, which I am greatly looking forward to.

Will do. I'll give it a go in a few books time (I've got approximately a bazillion to get through, dammit!)

I'm absolutely grand, thank you. Looking forward to an afternoon of Pimm's and Lemonade with some lovely friends. Jump aboard the Pimm's Train! Choo choo!!!

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.

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

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

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...

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...

Good morning/evening, fella. Just popping in to say hello. How's it all going?

Ahoy there, Nicola. Just dropping in to say hello. How're things with you? Hope you're tres well.

Hey there! Hope all is well with you. Just dropping by to say hello. So, 'hello!'

Hi Kat. Hope you're well. Check out the thread warning about a possible computer virus, mate. It's supposed to be a bad one.

Hi there. I hope you are very well and that you have a lovely day.