So... it's time now to say goodbye for a few days, wish all our readers a very Happy Christmas, and pretend we're not obsessing about London property for just a few days. I've been purposefully ignoring all, or at least most, of the 2006 house price prediction during the last few days, with the intention of gathering them together for a last post of the year next week. So stay tuned for that. Otherwise, I'll be away Monday and Tuesday, and back with the occasional story from Wednesday. MERRY CHRISTMAS, and thanks for reading the Rat and Mouse.