I've read that the blank searches are no longer valid - If so, then I'm back in the hunt tomorrow.

I work long hours so don't have much time for treasure hunting, but I really enjoyed the first few days.

I actually solved the puzzle for the mini when I got home late on day 4 of the hunt (one for us oldies who remember Crackerjack), but I didn't realise the prize had already gone until I checked out the discussion board. However, it gave me an appetite for treasure hunting. My thread was way off the mark on day five (I was trying to be far too clever).

I didn't have time to hunt on day 6 (Saturday) but logged on at around 25 past midnight to see what Sunday's prize was (a laptop). I looked at the first clue and immediately thought of Hollywood Bowl. A search for Bowl brought up the winning item - I was so excited that I nearly fell off my chair. Clicked on Buy It Now and, to my horror, realised that I wasn't signed in. The buy it now was still there even after I'd signed in, but I'd been beaten to it.

I had a go at the solving the Carols in the early hours of Monday, but soon got bored of pressing the F5 key - Even if my search was correct, I didn't know when the listing would be released.

Later in the week I heard about the blank string searches (I even tried one), but there didn't seem to be much point in looking any more. The clues got more obscure as the week went on and even if I could solve them, someone with a blank search would have beaten me to it. I've better things to do than keep pressing the F5 key for hours on end in the hope of winning an ipod, or a bike. The discussion board can be very entertaining though (Thanks, Mr and Mrs Forum_Lurker, whoever you are)

So if it's true that the "pinkies" have put the competition back onto the rails, I'm looking forward to pitting my wits against the rest of the UK. Now all I have to do is decide which prize to win.

Good hunting everyone.