i do enjoy stories of su-lin's family dynamics. (remember the microwave saga?) and yesterday, she, having gone downstairs to see if lunch was cooked and finding that none had been, complains:

"writing this really to point out my position of powerlessness in this family, because if any one of its other members were at home with me there would be lunch, cooked and waiting, but since i a) do not pay the bills (the parents); b) am not a pampered favourite of fortune (the sisters); c) will not heap abuse upon head of delinquent cook (the brother) i fend for myself. it is very hard."