At one of his concerts, George Michael was singing his version of Elton John's 'I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.' Half way through the song, George announced to the surprised and delighted audience, as the lights came up on the piano player, and with a rising flourish: “Ladies and Gentlemen – Mister Elton John'. The composer himself was on stage playing along and he joined in the singing at that juncture. The live recording of that track went on to be a big hit.

A similar event happened at another concert, this time, if memory serves, at a Nelson Mandela birthday gala. Guitarist Jack Sonni was unavailable that night, so Dire Straits required a replacement. Frontman and leader, Mark Knopfler, announced to the crowd that they had searched for a replacement and they had 'scraped the barrel' resulting in just managing to find someone who could stand in at short notice. The lights came up, and the joke was revealed.
The replacement was none other than Eric Clapton. Again came the announcement: “Ladies and Gentlemen – I give you Mister Eric Clapton.”

Now what, you ask, has this to do with Anmar, Palarand, Blackstone, Julina and all the rest.

Bear with me please for a little second. I will eventually tie it in, once I have got the next bit of ramble out of the way.

So ...

The foundations of my next episode (#66 - The Arrival) were written more than 6 months ago.

As I write each episode, then threads are either tided up, enhanced or introduced, so it is never possible to write the definitive version of a chapter so very far in advance. Even some of the reader's comments have given rise to extra threads in this continuing tale.

These episodes, as most of you already know, are designed to provide an outsider's look at the actual way Garia's suggested changes were implemented, and also at the effects of those changes, as seen through the eyes of an independent citizen.

There has been for several years now a close cooperation between myself and the originator of this 'universe', a necessary close cooperation.

When I first laid down the skeleton for this episode (which, incidentally, you know is #66 but was originally planned to be #41) then I enquired of her something simple like 'How do you imagine Keren will react when he first returns?'

We both knew then that Keren's circumstances will have changed.

So at long, long last, I can finally release this episode, which event should occur either this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

So it is with the very greatest of pleasure that I tell you part of this chapter was not written by myself. The passage is, I deem, obvious.

When you get to that bit, I would wish that you all had, reverberating in your skulls, the announcement: “Ladies and Gentlemen – I give you Ms. Penny Lane.”

Enjoy!

Julia.