Anyone else fed up with this week? I think the fact that it gets dark so early just gets me down! Bring on the weekend!

It might be a girl!! you never know!

Cool - thanks for your comments. I was thinking of going with Sky, and I think I probably now will.

I'm just about to move into a new rented house and I would like to get either Sky or NTL (Cable) for the TV, but also I want broadband for when I'm writing up, so I can check papers and (ahem) maybe keep up to date with the forum every once in a while.

Which do you reckon I go for? Anyone had any good/bad experiences?

Oh, and it's nice to have you back H - you disappeared for a while, what happened? Were you choosing wedding venues?

How about Chesterfield? I hear that is nice, especially on Friday & Saturday nights

H - is it an arranged marriage? Feel free not to answer if that's a bit of a personal question.

DJWickid - perhaps you shouldn't run before you can walk.

Next time you're round a friends house who's having a bonfire (maybe you're going to one this weekend), walk up to the fire and give it a little prod with a stick.

See... doesn't it feel good? Maybe if you're feeling confident at this stage (and wood stocks are permitting), you could try throwing on a branch to watch it burn. Only the one though - you don't want to put the fire out (a schoolgirl error technically known as extinguishing or dousing, but we won't baffle you with these complicated terms now).

As your technique improves, and you get accepted into the group, fellow nearby "fire prodders" will engage you in conversation.

Don't be afraid to point out exciting pieces of wood that are burning particularly well - this will earn you maximum respect amongst your peers.

Firelighters???? Ha. I rest my case. Next you'll be asking for two sticks to rub together.

Petrol love, that's what you need. Petrol.

**actually I'd like to point out that petrol if very dangerous and you shouldn't really use it (disclaimer).

Try it DJWicked. Wouldn't it be funny if we'd found a cure for PMT - fire building. Imagine it - girls building fires in every park across the country.

Actually, no, that's a bad idea. Girls can't build fires. It's a man thing.

I agree - building a fire is much more effort than child birth, which to be honest looks like a doddle.

With fire building there's all manner of potential hazards:

1) rusty nails in the wood
2) hedgehogs nesting
3) spinters

Now there's no way in the world childbirth can be more painful than a splinter... I've had one... and it was so deep I bled a little bit. Now way I tell you.

And you never will DJWicked. You never will.

DJWickid - any news?? How did it go???? Have you emailed him yet?

There's only one thing to say to that..... BAH HUMBUG!!

Is anyone else quite looking forward to winter? I am - I think life would be boring if the weather and light always stayed the same!

Of course, come November I'll be looking forward to summer again!!