Hello again readers!

Well, here we are again. and this time with an unbelievable print-run of 600,000 newsletters !

It's been wonderful once more, to receive so many of your letters and to hear of the news in your own lives. I never cease to be amazed and honoured at the way you trust me enough to confide your innermost feelings, and your most precious secrets. You have my deepest assurance, that I will never betray anything you wish to talk about in your letters. I hope you know me well enough by now. I know what it's like to need a friend you can turn to when you're feeling low.

Having said that, it isn't always sad things you tell me. I've laughed out loud at some of the funny experiences you have put down on paper to share with me. You are little darlings, every one!

Chatterbox has been an unprecedented success, surpassing all our hopes. And it's you who have made it so. So, get your thinking caps on, and let us know what you would like in the next newsletter; keep the letters coming, and most importantly, take care of yourselves.

I have now delivered the concluding story to The Woman Who Left, the title of which is Jinnie, and it will be published in March 2002.

Before I go, I want to send my heartfelt thanks to all of you who sent me letters about my eldest brother Sonny, when he was ill. Unfortunately, he had a serious relapse and there was nothing anyone could do for him. I don't need to tell you how I feel . . . how the whole family feels. We love him dearly, and looked up to him for the lovely, gentle person he was.

Right now, we are all consoled by the fact that some of the family took him out on a jolly a couple of days before. We had him smiling and laughing and we all had a wonderful time; my brother Alec even took a picture, which I now have on my window-sill.

I want to say here, a special thank you to two lovely women; my sister, Win, and sister-in-law, Pat. Thank you both. You'll never know how proud I am of you, and how much I love you.

Stay well, and God bless,
Love from me,