The festive period was a busy time in the Fortnum household this year.  Anne's cat had to go into kennels or whatever a cat equivalent is. A cat sanctuary? Perhaps that's just for cats on heroin or in abusive relationships? We travelled as far afield as York and even Warwick to visit our children. All of which meant that I had little time to “blog”. I did, however, have time to pose this interesting query to TV doctor Mark Porter: 

From: Hilary Fortnum

To: Dr Mark Porter (Closer Magazine) 

Dear Dr Porter, 

I had four poos today - that can't be right, can it? It was quite a struggle and today will forever be remembered by me as "the day of four poos". 

Thank you, in anticipation of your diagnosis, 

Hilary Francis Fortnum, aged 59  

Alas, the New Year didn’t bring me any honours (surprisingly overlooked in a gross act of nepotism as Zara Phillips gets an MBE in my place). It did, however, bring a response from Dr Porter.  

From: Dr Mark Porter

To: Hilary Fortnum 

Dear Hilary, 

Yes it can be right - and you should count yourself lucky if, in 59 years, it's the only day that you have been to the loo four times.    If you have a prolonged change of bowel habit (more than 4 - 6 weeks) then it requires investigation, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over one day - and nor should you. 

Best wishes,Mark

Dr Mark Porter  

That was a relief (though perhaps not as much of a relief as the four poos).