Crime writers – heads up

Brilliant course being run this autumn/winter by University of Liverpool's continuing education dept: Forensic geoscience...
How smart is that to cite as your Monday evening activity of choice?
Here's the blurb:
"Crime scene investigation has become popularised by the media. This course will look at the collection of geological information and the application of analytical techniques to criminal and civil investigations ranging from murder to identifying frauds and fakes."
Starts on Monday 24 September, 7-9pm, for 15 weekly meetings.
We could all be publishing books based on forensic geoscience in a year or two – Silver Daggers a-go-go.
For more info go to http://dbweb.liv.ac.uk/cll/page.asp?page_id=7370 , ring 0151 794 2523 or email conted@liverpool.ac.uk

Abso-bloody-lutely

This is my new bête noire. Everybody says it, all the time. I exaggerate, but you must hear it too. Every time one is asked a question, the positive answer is 'absolutely'. What's really infuriating is that I heard myself say it yesterday. I agreed with what my interviewee said, strongly, and That Word fell out of my mouth. It used to be justifiable, like an exclamation mark, when used sparingly. It has now become a synonym for 'yes' and is swiftly becoming meaningless.
Few things are absolute. Very few. Indeed I'm more inclined to think that everything is relative. So my concurring noise of choice should be 'quite'.
But, for the simple life we are all supposed to desire, the best response must be, simply, Yes.
Quite.

Unggghhhhhh

Would someone please tell me how a month can disappear without so much as a bye-your-leave? I've been away for almost half of it, but what happened to the other half I can't imagine. I can't bear to write more about it.