The Vikings chewed the tops of their shields as they trembled waiting to start a fight. We chew the carpet. Waiting to hear from agents and publishers, I check for emails compulsively / obessively / impatiently / dreadfilled. I do not know which feeling is worse - no responses or getting a response and terrified of opening it. And I know that their websites say lumps of weeks will clagg up the carpet before they even look at what I've sent, still seven times every day [seven? seventeen surely?] I fire up the machines in fearful hope. Drat, time to play more games of Patience. Ewan