I don't know if it's a real song (cover), or just a stand-up throwaway line from Craig Ferguson but I like the Crackerjack version where they call Major Tom 'a cheeky monkey'.

She had to ask his mum for our address. She couldn't have asked "hey, that woman he's engaged to, what's her name?". On the flip side, yes, we still swap cards, she's always addressed me by name in them since then, and to be fair, it has made for an amusing anectode for 20 years. Still #pettywins

This letter doesn't set anything straight. The future of Southchurch library is still up in the air, and after the loss of both Friars library and Thorpedean library, I do not feel Southend council really cares about libraries. The Forum library had its hours slashed after its grand opening.

And yet he seemed a bit miffed when the Pet Shop Boys covered one of U2's songs. I guess he thinks cover versions are just never as good as the original ;-)

My very favourite Christmas song, almost tying with that U2 original number "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" 😉

I've been sending a lot of gravy granules too - the mice pies can be used for swapsies with other British people in my relative's town but the gravy obsession is his alone. Funny the things people miss.

I had two parcels to send, and yes, it was a horrible moment, realising that the postage was worth more than the mince pies and mini puds inside, but to be fair, they arrived promptly in the recipient's country!

...and finally - put your address on the back of cards you send so people know who it came from, so they can send you one back if inclined and POTENTIALLY, RTS if the person you're sending it to no longer lives there. I think that's it except for last posting dates for UK 2nd class is 17th Dec!!!

...apply to you, but I keep a list of every person I send a card to, and mark off every card I receive - it helps me remember people I've forgotten, and crucially, shows me who doesn't really 'do' cards, so I don't NEED to send them on in future. I have lists going back to 2011 at the mo...(4/5)

...with people you've forgotten to keep in touch with. 4) lost an address? text, ask around, use the dreaded social media messages function if need be, and then, and this is key - write down the address in an address book, collected together with other addresses. 5) I am petty so this may not..(3/?)

...contact with far away friends and relatives. 2) if you have any creativity, you can make cards, or get youngsters to make them, adding to the joy people will feel on receiving them. 3) you can add a note, or even a couple of sheets of paper (a letter!) in with the card to reignite comms ...(2/?)

I assumed the PO had given me the wrong stamps for my European postage. No, they cost £3.40 each, so I had to buy some 20p stamps on top to use up the older priced Euro stamps I had. And ALL my relatives live abroad so that was an expensive visit to the PO.

Because 'vest' and 'tank top' mean different things in UK English, I was very confused, trying to picture your outfit.

That's just potholing for newbies - they won't get lost or trapped in one of those 😉

It's potholing in the UK but I still think spelunking is a better word!

I have that Soviet bus stops book! Both volumes now I come to think of it.