Apology of the day

Many of my emails begin with the words “Apologies for the delay in responding” or variations thereon – I have a lot of different projects on, it’s just me here until the children come home, general uselessness, yada yada.

I don’t often get an email back along similar lines, but this morning in my inbox was this from a potential client overseas who has a manuscript he wants me to assess:

Thanks for the response – my delay this time, I have been underwater for the past couple of days.

There’s not a lot you can say to that.