I am so cross with the SP. Every time I buy him a book for Christmas and have just hidden it in the depths of airing cupboard.. he comes home with a copy of it he has just bought for himself. First it was IMPERIUM, the new Robert Harris. He went on and on about POMPEII so much that it was an obvious choice for the Stocking. Then he went to Finland last week and bought himself a copy at the airport.

Next it was the new Colin Thubron. I bought it. He came home with it in a Waterstone`s bag.

Not to mention the new pair of slippers that appeared, after I had just ordered some. And I can`t cancel the order because the little shop doesn`t usually stock this kind and got them in specially. You would think, would you not, that a man might make his old slippers last now it is almost November and only 7 weeks to go. But no.

I got my revenge today. I bought my own copy of THE BEANO ANNUAL  for 2007 and left it lying casually on the kitchen table. I heard a dreadful groan when the SP came in which means he had ordered one from amazon.

Now he knows what it feels like.