So glad about your dad, even if it's for grim reasons. Bad news about Alan's neighbours, though I am relieved he Cathy and the kids are all right. All my friends are all right so far, save a friend of a friend who has lost the house, but the wife and young kids are fine, so they are much less fussed than they'd normally be in the situation. I can see why.

You were very much on the money when you said stay away from Victoria for February. I wish you were a bit less clever sometimes. The Red Cross has some of my cash, and I am telling the showers here to go south. Hope they listen.