I'll be at B'con as along as United don't cancel my flight.

Does your 'little plumber' cry, "Grease me up, I'm going in!"

It would help if I could spell --- Lauboutin - sigh --- but I suspect your answer is the same. The heel looks badly placed on the ones I have seen. Yes Colin is a good guy and he likes shoes so long as he does not have to wear them (if I ever find any shoes at a price that I don't gasp at I will get two pairs so you can have some too - not that I will ever find any I can afford)

Simon - I have always felt oppressed :o) Huge congrats on the nomination by the way. I take it you will be at Bouchercon? And I'm having my bathroom done and the plumber is a 'small plumber'. Every time I saw him I just thought of you and Reed.

Lynne - I have never tried them I'm afraid. And you are VERY lucky - Colin sounds like a dream.

Blahniks --- sigh. No where near as comfy as the Guccis. In fact, the Guccis are right up there with most comfortable heels ever and both the Blanhniks and the Jimmy Choos are not at all great. What are Laboutins like to wear? They are on my list to try.

Colin says to tell you he just read a great book -- Spying in High Heels. Lots of shoes and very funny. How many women have a husband who will read fashion mystery novels? Does this make me lucky or just really pathetic?

I just saw a thing that redheads are outcasts in the UK. Do you feel oppressed?

I did exchange a couple of e-mails with you in the dim and distant past after you saw a review I'd done of Eightball somewhere. Night of The Hunter is amazing - as soon as he starts up with that song it sends a shiver down my spine. And Out of The Past is one of the classic film noirs. "Build my gallows high, baby." I think the others were Jack, and Dinah and Lucy? I loved all the Mallory Towers ones. I wanted to change my name to Wilhelmina and go away to boarding school (I think it was the midnight feasts that attracted me!). My mum was gutted.

Hi Donna - I'm never less than truly shocked when someone says they've read Eightball (let alone enjoyed it ...!) ... thank you kindly, ma'am. I like your movie choices, by the way - Night of the Hunter and Out of the Past are two of my all-time faves. As for the Famous Five ... I read absolutely everything Enid Blyton wrote, no wonder I ended up running a crime fiction blog ... my faves were 'The Castle / Valley / Circus of Adventure stories ... remember them? There was a parrot called Kiki, if I recall correctly, who belonged to Philip ... but I can't remember any of the other names. Anyway, much obliged for the comment ... you've made my day and it's only 11 o'clock! Cheers, Dec

Ah Cara, you lucky lady - thanks for the hugs from Messrs Broadbent and Corbett - I also took one from you too, is that OK? :o) Will you be in Alaska? We need to go poledancing again.

Tom - hope you found the thread.

Tim - the fact that MHS blurbed your book makes me look forward to it even more.

Lynne - I hope you're enjoying your Blahniks!

Hey Donna,

Did a talk with Tony Broadbent and David Corbett last night, they send big hugs...

Vincent who?

Hey funny writer lady...come and have a go at the caption competition on my page!!

MHS is brilliant. Moist is a classic and Delicious left me hungry for more. He blurbed my novel and we've since become friends. An amazing writer that more people should discover.

One or two pairs in Donna Math? Isn't that where you put the 1 and the 2 side by each? So like this - 12 --- that seems a very reasonable number of flats for you to heal with. Then you will need a similar number of heels come fall (maybe I should say autumn). Got my first pair of Blahniks the other day. Sigh.

Lynne - no heels yet unfortunately, but I have bought...ahem...one or two new pairs of flats :o)

Tim - Eddie does deserve a hug and had I known you were going to see him I would have insisted :o) I'm just waiting for Queenpin to be delivered - can't wait! Have you read Mark Haskell Smith's other books? They are so delciously warped.

I just saw Eddie Muller, but no hugs were exchanged, though I agree he deserves one. Absolutely love your list of authors. Favorites so far this year are Queenpin, Salty and Blood of Paradise.

I hope you can wear your heels soon! But an excuse to buy several pairs of shoes, even flats, is a good excuse. Just remember to point and flex as soon as the ankle can take it.

Lynne - I had to go out and treat myself to several new pairs of flat ones because I can't wear heels at the moment due to my injury.

Vince - thank you for delivering my hug to Eddie. I DREAM about a film noir event in Glasgow!

You were right, Donna. Eddie Muller didn't mind being hugged at all once I told him it was from you. He'd love to bring Noir City to Glasgow. Maybe he will if you ask him nicely.

Enough to get Colin to pick up another in the series for me. I told him to blame you. He thinks you deserve a book too - but how to figure one you don't already have?? I would send shoes but that would just be too painful.