It's innocuous until your Mother asks it

A simple question, asked the world over more than a billion times a day. Usually dispatched with a response of three words or less. "Fine thanks", "Yeah good, you?", "Not too bad", "Been worse mate".

That's all well and good when responding to a dispassionate and arbitrary enquiry into ones well being. But when someone who knows you well, loves you dearly and can sense when something is up asks it - that simple question is an altogether different proposition, and deserves a proper response.

In short, Mother emailed me and said; aside from the 'I've been there and done that [including relevant pictorials - Ed] lightweight bollocks that makes its way onto Kiwilog, how's the head? Lonely? Worried about not having a job? Feeling displaced, isolated?

Or to quote her more directly, "Hi Love, Apart from footy how are things your end? Nick & I settling in with the kids here. Played golf (not well) today but good to get out in the fresh air. Hope you are happy & job soon your way. Lotsa love Mum. xxxxxxxxxxx and Nick."

Only a Mother can do that. After one conversation over the weekend, sense that the little one may be a touch unsettled. The brilliance is couching the question in a way that invites as much response as the recipeint is ready to disclose.

Well - I am ready to disclose - but it will take a little writing - so it will be up tomorrow. In the meantime Ma, rest easy - I'm fine!(And sorry for telling people that your Golf was average yedsterday!)