As mid-August approaches and the heat continues to get more unbearable, we've decided that we'd like to be much more representative of Bulgaria's August personality. Therefore, we've decided not to do our work as well, and you will, consequently, not get to read an editorial this week. We will not render our opinion on Bulgarian politics, business or day-to-day life. We will not come out with a firm argument this week - hell, we might not even print this issue. Why not? Let us tell you.

It's too hot - Our office doesn't have air conditioning and the cold water isn't working all that well, so how can people be expected to accomplish anything? Writing editorials is hard work and even though we do it every week throughout the year, it's August and therefore it just can't be done.

No one's here to read it - This is a fairly simple fact. Diplomats, businessmen and beggars have all gone on holiday and many will not get to read their copy of The Sofia Echo. As is common knowledge, in August, everyone goes away, so there's no point in even trying to get something done, no matter how trivial. Some of Sofia's taxi drivers are even refusing fares lately because people are on holiday so there's no point in working.

Nothing's happening - As you may have guessed from the previous two reasons, there's a distinct problem in August in writing editorials. There are no major events, very few scandals, and not many people are having parties. The passport office, however, is now starting to fit in. While the rest of Bulgaria slows down, they may be able to catch up some ground.

The new government just keeps saying the same things over and over again - There is only so much commentary that can be written on political issues when those in power have been saying the same thing for the last four months. If they said something new, we'd have a completely different editorial. But they haven't, no matter whatever illusion the honourable Solomon Passi tries to get across.

We don't get letters about our editorials - Obviously we haven't been doing something right. Maybe we're not controversial enough. Maybe we should say things like "the expatriate community in Bulgaria doesn't drink enough. Get back to the bar you bunch of losers. Do you really think family life is more important than one more pint? What's this world coming to?" Perhaps something like that would get more of a response.

Hope is not lost, however, for all these problems could be corrected by a cold front, a scandal, government action and, of course, massive feedback to this section of the paper. But, of course, no one was here to read this anyway...