Light curves of the soft X-ray emission from the whole active region (crosses, top plot) and the northern elbow only (asterisks, bottom plot). The failed eruption beginning around 7 December 00:45 UT (blue solid line) produces a temporary enhancement in active region emission and is followed by an enhancement in the northern arm of the sigmoid. The main eruption (red dash-dot line) is accompanied by enhanced emission in the centre of the active region beginning at 7 December 04:20 UT and reduced emission in the northern elbow.