I've been doing my household sums this evening and it's official. I can no longer afford to see any of the lovely ladies.

Between higher mortgage payments, higher fuel prices, general increases in most prices, and my wages being decimated by levies and pension deducations, I am now in the zone where I have little if any excess income. And what little excess I have is being put away in case I get my P45 one of these days.

I'm not gone from the boards, but kicking and screaming I must take an enforced break from punting. I hope it's only temporary, by which I mean a year or two. I'd hate to think my days are completely done. And I hope too that there will be some lovely ladies left by the time I can get back in the saddle again.