Just to note that, as the end of the year looms, I can report that whereas in 2009 some 15,000 visitors here spent from 30 minutes to an hour or more reading deeper into the site, this year that number has jumped to over 25,000 people.

By far the largest number of visitors flit by for a few seconds, either mistaking me for someone else or not being interested. Or because they just need a quick bracing top-up before tackling the weary world again.

Thanks to all readers, frequent or not.

But a special thank you to those of you who stay around and have a really good read, and to those who stop by regularly and/or read the RSS feed (ie get the whole lot).

Here’s a treat for you all. Enhanced by a keen-eyed YouTube commenter:

Much as I love Nick, here he looks uncannily like General De Gaul,