Emma, from her ever so slightly smug texts, has been surfing, rafting, lolling in a hammock and generally doing things unavailable to Wulfrunians in winter. She's in New Zealand, visiting her sister. She promises to update her blog from Down There.
I was in a posh boarding school in Somerset (within sight of Glastonbury Tor, hippies), managing the West Midlands team for the Cadet Winton fencing tournament. It was very, very cold (hurrah for Icebreaker woolly gear) and quite stressful, but we did well. Last year we were 9th: this year we came 4th, so thank you to all the fencers, particularly the women's epée team, who were undefeated the whole weekend. They all behaved, too…
In my absence, Neal and Dan entertained Cynical Ben and his long-suffering wife Jo, at my flat. Actually, while I slept in preparation for getting up at 5.00 a.m., they entertained Mark to drunken pizza the night before. I didn't hear a thing. Ben's Christmas present to me was a huge box of the most depressing literature you'll ever see, plus a Jeeves and Wooster compendium, a Gary Rhodes cookbook, a cheese-making book, and Stephen Fry's guide to classical music, inscribed with the words 'This book is shit, love Ben'. And guess what: he's right!
Ben has this to say about me over on his blog:
In a year when I gave up on the Guardian where can I turn when I want a left-leaning stance on world events? The answer is provided by the Vole who I agree with almost everything in general terms and almost nothing in the particular. His prolific blogging takes in the personal, the private, the political and the pant-wetting indie. I read his blog every time I am online and there is always something worth reading. He is a word machine. He also has an especial good humour and is wonderfully patient with my often incredibly rude and argumentative commentsThe last comment is the accurate one. His visit to my flat was his first. I wasn't there. Ben's considered judgement was apparently 'it's not as bad as I expected', which is a beautifully weighted insult. However, he'll no doubt have a completely different opinion by next week. He always does, on every subject. Other than Muriel Spark, that is. He loves Muriel Spark.
Ewar: I have a beautifully wrapped parcel of books for you, courtesy of old Cynical. Call in for them next term.
Dan presented me with a Roy Hattersley book on the period in which I specialise, and a compilation CD, which starts with LFO and presumably gets weirder. Our own Christmas album will be available for your delectation very soon. Be afraid, be very, very afraid.
3 comments:
I certainly will, Voley.
Massive thanks to the Cynical One, once again.
In fairness I had been given some bad reports about there being a bookshelf or two too many.
Personally I would lose a couple of the shelves, store some of the stuff under the bed, plug in the fridge (or prop the door open slightly - otherwise it will get musty) get one of the heaters working, put a big colourful picture above it, put some rugs down, buy a few nice 'things' for the windowsill etc etc... but I do like it. My main concerns with your flat are the missed opportunity architecturally, not your decorations.
I also think that that smoke alarm that is positioned 20ft in the air on your very high ceiling would look rather fetching with a couple of crossbow bolts through its merciless heart.
Yes, rugs are going to happen, hopefully lots of them. I would like more art up - I've lots of prints in my office, waiting for wall space.
As to the heating - I just don't really need it, and those electric heaters are rubbish, so taking them off the wall gave me more wall space for bookshelves. Same for the fridge - I just don't need one.
The smoke alarm's fixed - no more beeping. But crossbow bolts do furnish a room.
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