JD looks forlorn and you can see why if you think that the huge metre-long, 10cm diameter raggy that came here only two days ago now looks like this. It’s not really unlucky for him as he brought the demise of his toy on himself because he has chomped, plucked, torn and pulled it apart in two days. BUT it’s unlucky for him in as much as he now doesn’t have his toy any more. Still, it lasted two days and its remains are now being pressed into a secondary use as fuel for the fire!

It’s less unlucky for DM who we think might be going back into employment next week – we missed a phone call following a second interview and we hope that the speedy reply means he’s being offered the job. Fingers crossed.

As a scientist, I’m not supposed to be superstitious even though I’m the first person to don my lucky pants, drink my second (not first) hot drink of the day from my Spurs mug and wear my team shirt on a match day…I did say I was a pseudo-scientist. So, crossing fingers and looking out for a pair of magpies probably won’t make a difference but it won’t stop me from doing it!