Saturday, April 12, 2008

Three admirable women, shine and smokers.

1. Finding three speakers I really admire at the London Book Fair: Xinran, Jane Nissen and Kate Mosse.

2. April showers because they make the world sparkle, and make everyone appreciate the sunny hours.

3. A couple of terms ago, my writing teacher recommended a series called The Smoking Room. The TV announces a two-episode run later in the evening. So I slip in another hour of writing and then settle down to watch. And I fall in love. It's like watching a tiny tobacco-stained stage play with characters so familiar that I feel as if I ought to be asking them how they're doing and if there's any gossip.

At the gate, invitation and beetroots.

1. I find yet more recycling and squinting in the drizzle, go down to the gate to put it out. Our neighbour is at her gate and we grumble ge...