Sugared almonds

 I had a very special guest here for lunch yesterday.

It was Simon, otherwise known as Stuck in a book, up in Edinburgh for a few days and kindly paying me a visit. We have met before, but that was a brief hello in Oxford when he was working for his finals and I was attending a 'do', so it was lovely to have a proper chin-wag and then go book-shopping with him.

But look what he kindly brought me: a set of Bloomsbury Group bookmarks to mark my place in these lovely books.

Several of these books have already appeared on these pages, most notably Henrietta's War of course, but I think Simon is due hearty congratulations for helping to bring Miss Hargreaves back from relative obscurity, and in doing so for giving those of us who have read it great entertainment.

As to 'sugared almonds', well the bookmarks (and their respective book covers) have quite a sugared almond feel to them in real life, and for pudding at lunch yesterday I made Simon a sweetly tart almond-based cake!

Comments

[Dark Puss]

Book shopping! Do either of you need any more books? I'm glad you both had a fun day in Edinburgh. Despite both of your efforts the charms of Henrietta's War passes me by, but I'm sure you will be pleased to know that it is very visible in my favourite independent bookshops in London as well as my local library.

Ciao (or possibly Miaow) P x

[Cornflower]

I bought a mere one, Dark Puss. Simon bought ... more than one.

[Dark Puss]

Commendably restrained!

[Simon]

Using my friend's laptop very briefly to say what a lovely time I had - thank you for a delicious meal and cake (glad to see the recipe on the other blog), wonderfully bookish chat, and fun book shopping. I did indeed buy five... which pales when you consider that I've bought *cough* 18 books while I've been away...

[Dark Puss]

Hello Simon I was sure you'd have a wonderful time with my lovely close friend Cornflower.

In playful cat style let me tweak your tail a little and ask "Do you spend your disposable income on anything other than books?" Wine, women, songs perhaps?

Best wishes from the Dark Side.

[Danielle]

Glad to hear you had a nice time. The cake sounds yummy and the bookmarks look yummy, too--such pretty pastels. I think there is a rule that when you go on vacation you're required to buy books...

[Dark Puss]

Oh no there isn't! (the cat yelled back in best pantomime audience style)

[Simon T]

Ha! No, sadly. Well, some songs in the form of CDs... mostly books...

I've been meaning to thank you for rooting out that information about the Ultimate Picture Palace - my searches for info failed, so I was grateful for the history of the cinema.

[Nan]

Lucky, lucky you two!

[Dark Puss]

My pleasure!