UKIP

If you ever want to know if a fellow blogger is still alive, or still shows any interest in life at all, then there are a few tricks you can employ to get them to come out of their shell.

For instance, yesterday's post was a sure-fire way to get a reaction from Sarah T, who could not resist tearing herself away from the book-launch to respond positively to the suggestive photo in it.

If I ever want to find out if the Hattatts are still alive, then I just mention Venice or Iford Manor, as I am sure they have a piece of software that scans for the mere mention of either, and sets of an alarm when it finds one.

Cro does not normally go silent, but if he does, all you need do is mention any sort of food whatsoever, and he'll start virtually salivating.

Heron - I have just discovered - becomes extremely verbal on the subject of mangoes if prompted, so I am keeping that one up my sleeve for any time he becomes uncharacteristically shy.

John cannot resist commenting on anything which hints at dog-shit, but that's the Welsh for you.

It is too early to know what rattles Jim's cage, but since he - by his own admission - needs more day to day attention than most of us, and hasn't put up any Mantovani for a few days, I am going to try this blog title, just to see if my intuition is correct.