Horrible things do happen to normal people – it a reminder to people on a ski holiday that it can be a pretty hostile environment at times I think hey.

I was talking to Alice (Blackwood) the other day, and I was mentioning that you and I are going down to Sydney in June – she is looking really forward to seeing you again!

Yes, there is many a groan-worthy motivational speaker I really like that happiness quote, it is nice.

It was disconcerting to read the news of an unnamed 20 something year old Australian man missing in Niseko, and then mentally hold my breath until your next facebook status appeared. Horrible things happen to normal people :/

(I love the first one too, but I’ve seen it before and I doubt that’s any surprise to you. All I have to say though is that teachers weren’t as hot as that in my day… *sigh*)

I am very proud of you with your reading indeed The Graveyard Book is fabulous isn’t it? You don’t have to convince me of Neil Gaiman’s genius, but I’ll happily way in to help you convince everyone else on the planet!

Glad you had a great time in Japan, the photos on fb looked ace, but sorry to hear about that guy’s disappearance, that’s awful.

Finally, the thing about the mental attitude to create happiness (can’t think the phrase positive mental attitude without having hideous flashbacks to Kris Akabusi circa 1990, shudder) reminds me of one of my favourite quotes form another genius author, Diana Wynne Jones: “Happiness isn’t a thing. You can’t go out and get it like a cup of tea. It’s the way you feel about things.” Certainly that’s how I’ve always tried to live my life, and reckon I am certainly happier for it.