Hi Steve
The 'ho, ho' referred to the fact that I was still working despite having to pack.
And if you've never visited Murdoch-land you're in for a treat. It's a place where, even in the 90s women powdered their noses, patted their hair into place and always carried handbags. Where the most up to date expression of the youth was 'I say!'. Where everyone lived in little flats in Knightsbridge and Kensington High Street, or if the were slumming it, Chelsea (and if they were really slumming it, Hammersmith, though they still had a least one servant). It's where people died by drowning and lost faith in their own personal God. Where adults used the expressions 'Dear heart'' and ''Dear Boy'' as the greatest endearments.
Despite that I'm totally hooked. I'm working my way through all twenty five of her novels (not in sequence). I've just finished no.15 and have two more to take on holiday. She was a great admirer of John Cowper Powys whose 'Dorset' qaurtet of novels are set where we'll be holidaying - so there'll be a few literary excursions - Maiden Castle, Dorchester etc.
So on that literary note, I sign off for the next 10 days.