So another fortnight has hurtled by in a blizzard of marking and, briefly this morning, in a real blizzard - not that you can really call a light sprinkling of snow a blizzard (though that doesn't deter them from doing so on Sky News). I meant to give a full account of Olivia's recent blip, but the need for this has been superceded by the fact that this week she has been suffering Those Post-MMR Jab Blues. This has called for lots of hits of Calpol and regular doses of 'In the Night Garden', and thankfully, Phase One appears to be coming to an end.

The picture above was taken the night before her appointment with the needle, and anyone who knows of my past as the Cherry Picking King of Royton will see that the Bland gene for exhibitionist cycling has been safely passed on to Olivia. I never did grow up to be a BMX champion, but maybe Olivia can realise that dream on my behalf...