Three good things and one practical tip

1. On the week-end I found out that Susanna Clarke, author of the fabulous Jonathon Strange and Mr Norrel, has written a new book. It's called The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories. Hurrah! Something to put on my Christmas list!

2. I just won $11.50 and a bottle of wine in the office Melbourne Cup Sweepstakes (thank-you Pop Rock) and novelty hat competition where a popcorn-covered hat blitzed the admittedly-limited competition.

3. Accidentally dropping an earring down the sink doesn't necessarily mean it's gone forever if you can be bothered dismantling the S-bend.

1. When reassembling an S-bend, it's important not to throw away those strange bits of rubber that fall out of the joins. If you do this, water comes out later when turn on the tap.