Dear Cherished Reader.
I have been away as the real world of work encroached on my life for a while. I am back in The Cave now and equilibrium has been restored.
I appreciate that I have not been fair to fellow Charioteers in the past months, not the least in not announcing the result of the photo comp i set back in November, for which I apologise and I thank those who took up the baton.
Tail between legs, I hope I will be welcomed back into the pack.
OZ
Boadicea's Chariot 
About time too đ
A Good New Year to you OZ and welcome back.
Out of interest and for posterity, who won the November competition? There were some good entries.
Big game for Liverpool on Sunday. Are you dreaming the dream?
Welcome back – we all take breaks now and again đ
Welcome back, OZ! It’s brilliant to “see” you again!
Did you ever get that bloody cat blanket from the bar in the village?
Good to see you back.
Real life sometimes intrudes, OZ. Welcome back. đ
I’m all for real life interrupting the flow. ..
You’ve been away?
Work? Is that what you told Mrs OZ too? đ
Mornin’ all. Allow me to bring you up to speed on life chez OZ
The NSW has been an absolute star. She is not Mrs OZ yet, Janus, but we are working on it..
Silvie had her operation at the end of January and the titanium peg was inserted into her stump. The post-op photographs are not for the faint hearted, but her leg has now healed around the implant. The carbon-fibre spatulas,(the blade-runner part of the prosthesis) have arrived at the hospital and she is still in Lisbon waiting for a titanium spacer to be engineered to connect the peg to the spatula. This will enable her to stand four square again.
It is just as well she is not here because the poisoner has returned with a vengeance. At least twelve pet dogs have died in agony in the last fortnight. A campaign is afoot to catch the fekker responsible and issue summary justice. The plod will only take action if a very battered fekker is presented together with a bottle of paraquat. Otherwise you have to send your pet’s corpse for post mortem (at your cost) and give the resultant papers to the GNR, (which can take up to six months) on receipt of which the plod will say that there is no point in investigating a crime that was committed six months ago.
Fumada, meanwhile, has sailed serenely over everything, including taking over Silvie’s bed and ours, truth be known. She is now known as Lucretia and I will leave cherished readers to draw their own conclusions. Christina’s blanket eventually arrived some time in early February and is on her bed, although for the meantime she prefers Silvie’s or mine.
OZ
I’d be very interested in seeing those photos, just post them so none show on the opening page.
Interesting that she is having a blade not a conventional prosthetic leg, why? Speed for running?
(Note to self don’t give her a gun!)
OZ: please keep us informed. As a warning to you, I will be back in the old country indefinitely from July. You have a visitor coming before you know it.
G’day possums.
Christina – I will try to send you the pre and post op piccies by email.
Christopher – I am sure a corner of The Cave can be found should you need a place to rest your weary head in Portugal. Talk to Ferret who is the only Charioteer to have taken up the challenge thus far.
OZ
OZ – good morning to you. Good to see you about!
Thank you PapaG. it is good to be back
OZ