Sorry to say it’s another one of those mornings when the household internet connection isn’t making it all the way to my computer, so I’m entering this post into Notepad and will upload it as soon as the connection is back.

Grey morning and very damp, English-looking outside. Willie is snoozing on my bed, and his twitching paws tell me that he is dreaming of chasing tennis balls or sticks – swimming, perhaps. It was this time of year back in 1998 – Christmas night, actually, that we lost our eight year old Yellow Lab Woody to cancer. He was a sweet, gentle, Lab-Samoyed mix and it was terribly sad to lose him so young. I find that, this time of year, I tend to look at nine-year old Willie with a touch of apprehension. Once we’ve made it through the holidays, I relax … as if getting through that time makes him magically safe for another year. Anyway, Willie sleeps and dreams, in his spot on my morning bed – quite oblivious to the nagging human thoughts about mortality that are focused on him. (Lucky dog.)

I read, last night, the further secret word guesses by Alice and CB … all quite impressive one-syllable words starting with “p” – but sadly, none correct.

Depending on your perspective, CB came frighteningly (or happily) close a few times. But so far, the fabulous JordanCornblog prize remains unclaimed!

Who will win? And what will we think when all is said and done? Was the prize claimed because he/she:

a) Cheated?

b) Was lucky?

c) Is a genius?

d) It was her/his destiny?

Weighty questions, eh? Let’s see what today brings …