Ready, set? 250 words here we come. Julia wants me in the kitchen and I want to be in front of the computer so we have compromised. I told her I would go through when I had finished the latest piece of work I am engaged in. As long as I can keep the clatter of keys going I can stay here. If not I will have to go and clean something.

I managed to get . . .

At that point I stopped to look something up and she caught me. I will be back later.

I managed, as I was about to say, twelve submissions sent. The upper limit was twelve, but that would have involved two attempts at forms I’ve never tried and paying to enter a competition. It was a haiku competition and I have trouble writing haiku so I gave it a miss. As I’ve already entered. It was slightly better than last month, because I was a bit more organised, but it could have been better.

So far I have had two acceptances (both incorporating suggestions from the editors) and one enquiry from an editor asking what it was about. I take it that my attempts to incorporate a bit more complication and sophistication have not been entirely successful in this case.

Of course, once you stop, there is always another job, and a meal, and The Great Pottery Throwdown and the relaunch of Mock the Week and a discussion that needs having . . .

The Throwdown had some good stuff on it but Mock the Week, though still better than many things that get on TV, is not quite as good as it was. This may be down to the show being longer or a couple of the comedians they had on, and a bit of bad language. From watching the out-takes of the original series I’m sure there was plenty of swearing, but they used to edit it out.

As Julia said, if she wants to hear swearing she will just turn over to a programme with politicians on and wait for me to start. She doesn’t need to import and comedian who thinks swearing is wit.

23.57. This is becoming a habit . . .

Winnie’s second article in the Nene Valley Railway Newsletter has just been published.