IDAU, it is bizarre that Australia exports so much coal to China, so it can be burnt, providing reliable power generation, but Green Australians don't want to burn coal in Australia so they can have reliable power generation.

I wonder if Australians will work out where the problem is.

There seems to be quite a storm brewing over the state-wide blackout in South Australia, caused by over-reliance on renewables. That a big storm shut down the wind generation was only the start of it.

'riskily worn' even.

It might even be insanity. Is there a usb plug in for that?

Thanks Ross, yes, I even have a set. This laptop is just serving time now as my hobby device. It gets dragged about and periodically dropped. I still use it because it's like an old pair of trousers. Riskilly warn in places but still very comfortable.

I know, I know, with the millions oil companies are paying me I should spell better but I just told them they could hire Dr Lew if missing the odd c wasn't good enough. ;-)

ACK
We're a small select bunch, although just to prove what a small world it is one of our boys teachers at secondary school in Derby came from Perth and unusually supported Saints rather than one of the Auld Firm.

TinyCO2

Have you tried a wireless keyboard and mouse ? I hate laptop keyboards as I touch type and all the keys are crampted together.

SandyS. I give up my seat to one who has suffered more than I.
Norwich fans come from far and wide across Norfolk, so our pain is spread more widely.

ACK and Mark Hodgson
As a lifelong follower of St Johnstone FC I feel your pain, one major trophy in 132 years. But since Geoff Brown took over when they were on the verge financial disaster and worst team in the Scottish League things have improved by good financial management and for the most part good choices of team manager.

Following your local club teaches you to cherish the successes and be philosophical about the less successful times. Beating SV Hamburg in the UEFA Cup still a happy memory from way back. I think followers of Norwich must also have a similar memory of a game against German opposition?

Mark Hodgson. My condolences on being beholden to a "bumping along the bottom" football team. I am fully conversant with the emotions entailed - my local team being Norwich.

I wonder why we swear allegence to teams that undergo wholesale changes so that nothing remains of the original after a few years (ManU and Arsenal being notable exceptions). Rather like the proverbial wheelbarrow of which all parts have been replaced.

1997 middle of dotcom bubble, start of Y2K also a bubble in the sense it couldn't last much beyond 1999, 1997 saw publication of BSI Year 2000 Conformity Requirements. 1999-2001 dotcom adjustment Cisco lose 80+% of stock value Amazon similar and they survived many didn't so was 1997 as false dawn built on two successive bubbles in reality?