My breath. Let me waste it on you.

Of all the pointless things we I say to cats, it is highly likely that "Do you have any idea how much that cost?" is the most pointless thus far achieved. Because no, of course they don't, they're cats; and if they did have the remotest understanding of means of exchange - well. They're still cats. They're not going to care, are they?

(Smoked sea salt, since you ask. Spilled all over everywhere.)

In other news, I am having an orgy of printing. We're looking at a thousand pages, more or less, coming out of this machine today. Paperless office, anyone...?

Which reminds me: [see next post]

Ego posting - ignore at will

I really shouldn't do this, but I'm gonna.

I had the edit-letter for Daniel Fox's HIDDEN CITIES on Friday, just before I went off to Oxford. Paused to read it, nearly missed my train...

It begins:

I am utterly delighted with HIDDEN CITIES. You've done an elegant balancing act here, keeping all these motives and betrayals in the air, executed with your customary grace and presence. I am especially thrilled with the directions you've decided to take your heroes (and villains)--[spoiler #1]'s character arc was of course impressive, but no less wonderful to read were the secret moments of [spoiler #2], the brilliance and unexpected power of [spoiler #3], the complicated loves of [spoiler #4], and [spoiler #5], whom you managed to make me love and care for despite a series' worth of [zir] antagonism. Your stories are woven expertly; what remains, therefore, is to tuck the loose threads in neatly at the ends.

Whereupon follow seven pages of closely-typed notes, which is why I nearly missed my train.

I did like that first paragraph, at least, even if it is naive of me to fall for the sweetener with the bitter yet to follow.

I have redacted names, obviously, so that those of you who've read DRAGON IN CHAINS and JADE MAN'S SKIN can play along, guessing who goes where. Some will be easier than others, I think.

Foodstuff

Hmm. I have been commissioned to cook a birthday dinner for eight on Sunday next. It has been suggested that duck finds favour with all concerned.

What I'm wondering is, would it be a treat for anyone except myself, or would people less obsessive than I am find it weird and/or oppressive if the meal were all duck? I'm thinking four courses: soup, terrine, salad and confit. All celebrating very different textures/flavours/aspects of the bird, but all ducky at heart. [To be more specific, I'm thinking a green pea soup made with duck stock, with duck scratchings on the side; a terrine perhaps of wild mushroom and duck, with a pork base; a salad of tea-smoked duck breast and watercress with a pomegranate molasses dressing; and confit of leg with Puy lentils. Damn, I want to cook that menu...]

[Oh, and then a dessert with absolutely no duck in it at all, honest.]