My, but I picked a bad time to go on holiday!

well done shona, it didn't quite convince me but i liked it a lot

Cheers, dode . The quality of the competition was very good indeed, and I'm amazed to have done so well. Clearly skill rather than luck, though. [deadpan]
It was the first association that came to mind. Worrying, really.

A most excellent venture, TEd.
Congratulations! [standing ovation][drinks all round]

BTW, I've always known mackenzies as clapometers due to an ancient British TV program called Opportunity Knocks - a talent (meaning talentless) show where the winner was dictated by the level of applause of the audience. Was this program an import from the US, perchance?