Some amazing technological breakthroughs have happened in my lifetime--space travel, home computers, colour television are some of the ones that come to mind.

But they've all been dwarfed by the packet that arrived in today's mail from Ottawa, the return address indicating it came from the woman who was my maid of honour back when I married, my dear friend, Anne.

Um, maybe you should be sitting down for this.

Ready?

*Insert heavenly choir of angel sounds of your choice here*.

Yes, I now own The Dripless Teapot Gadget.

Try to control your jealousy, eh.

Rumours of it appeared in my guestbook back when I was originally obsessing about the Chinese conspiracy to fill my home with teapots that drip when they are poured.

But repeated efforts to find the miraculous gadget resulted in blank looks from store clerks from here to Montreal.

Frankly I had given up hope.

And now I have not one but TWO examples of The Dripless Teapot Gadget.

It's a wonderful world.