Ooops!

Eagle-eyed daughter Liz has just spotted an error in my soda bread recipe [I have corrected it now] That should have been ONE pound of flour, not FOUR. Apologies to anyone who has made an incredibly big loaf!

On the subject of extremely large things, I feel very sorry for the family in Essex who have been forced out of their home by the arrival of a Camel Spider, which apparently arrived here from Afghanistan in the Dad's Army Kitbag. On Radio 2, they said it was the size of a saucer, and managed to snap the plastic coathanger which the man's son used to poke it! In the Times it said they have red knees, but aren't particularly dangerous. The RSPCA won't comment till they have seen and identified it!

We've got lots of spiders in the house this week, of varying sizes, mercifully none that big. I think it is the change in the weather. I have got braver about dealing with them - but I still do not like wasps.

I am sure that wasps have a valid place in Creation, or the Good Lord wouldn't have created them - and I acknowledge that their nests are beautifully made. But I really do not like them. Especially the ones which climbed into my orange juice in Ireland and settled on my Danish Pastry!

The Latin for 'wasp' is Vespa - and as far as I am concerned, the best Vespa is this sort!

The children round here went back to school today [late, as the bus didn't turn up on time] Poor things!