Continuing Numbered Lists

[David Miller x4963]

Can anyone tell me how to write numbered lists which have breaks in them.
e.g.

1.   First thing in list.
2.   Second thing.

Explanation of what has happened so far...

3.   Third thing in same list.
etc.

The user manual mentions starting numbered lists at numbers other than 1,
but I would prefer the list to continue, rather than fixing the starting
number of a second list.

Thanks in advance,

David Miller