A break

from work - it's been a while since I devoured a book at one sitting, which is a delight. Oppenheim was known as The Prince of Storytellers, but who reads him now? Just one title by him in the Worcestershire Libraries, and not this one which is regarded as his best. The cover of this reissue seems to bear little relation to the rather charmingly subtle plot. 

A delightful lunch with R. whose review of Horowitz's new 007 book appeared in our favourite eclectic weekly today. He admired Mrs E's rebuild of my father's low brick wall, which may well form a future blip. 

I have learned the meaning of the Yiddish word 'verklempt', and that the distinctive ingredient of Villa Ortica cheese is nettles - easy if you speak Italian.