Doldrums?

Well, yes in truth. The world does seem on hold until we discover what has happened to dear Madeleine McCann.

Why do I not say 'until she is safely returned to her family'? You know why as well as I.

And yes I am affected by her close resemblance to E at her age. Bright, blonde, cute. This makes her no more special, but it does impress both H and I to our very soul.

We once, when E was about four or five, briefly lost sight of her on a visit to London Zoo. It was in a general play area and E went off to romp on the swings. She ran and vanished behind a shrubbed area failing to appear on the other side.

Seconds became a minute or more before we spotted her somewhere else altogether.

A silly parental anxiety perhaps.

A week later, though, we learnt that a foul pervert had been arrested in that very spot attempting to lure children to some wretched doom.

Not doldrums then, but some empathetic pause. Some holding of breath and many, many prayers.