Unfortunately, Jack's experience at the Deep Sea Diving Adventure didn't last too long either.  The instructor got a case of nitrogen narcosis and they had to cancel the remainder of the course.

I don't think Jack was too bothered, and they paid his train fare home.  Two weeks later there was also a cheque in the post, ''with sincerest apologies for the disappointment and inconvenience at the loss of your prize''.

It amounted to just enough for me to treat myself to a long weekend at a health spa, which is just the sort of thing I'd have chosen for myself as the prize, had the radio station given us a choice. 

I'm going next weekend.  I booked it on the internet, and there were three different packages available:  ''

''Bronze'' got you two  nights in a so-so cabin, with just a facial, massage, manicure and pedicure included in the price, and bed and breakfast.  The cabin looked a bit naff too so I clicked on ''Silver''  

That turned out to be just within my price range and was three nights - cabin much nicer - in the photos anyway.  Facial, massage, manicure, pedicure, all exercise classes free, detox diet, and half board accommodation. 

I had a quick look at the ''Gold'' Package,but it was a bit too pricey and included all the same things as the Silver deal except that it was full board and there were a couple of extra treatments including something called ''Hot Stones.''  I didn't like the sound of that so I didn't even bother to look at ''Platinum''.

 I pressed a few buttons, selected ''Silver'', popped in my credit card number and got the email confirmation.  Easy as pie.

Oh - I forgot to mention.  This health spa's name - well, it's Magpies. 

For some reason, whatever I did when I booked it online caused several copies of their brochure to wing their way to me the following day.  Six of them in fact - each with a dirty great  photograph of a magpie adorning the front cover.  Fancy that!

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Click to View Author Guidance

Based on the nursery rhyme about magpies.

All the lines are listed in C1 - each chapter should end in a sighting of the correct number of magpies (in whatever form) and the chapter heading be the next line in the rhyme.

Authors can interpret the outcome as they see fit!

Chatty anecdotal style - almost as if she's writing a letter to an old friend.

I'm not sure if this is right - but it could well be the first collaborative story on here with an ending? Well done everyone.

updated Aug 5 by Tasha_Noble