DPP 13: Noses and Grindstones and Sonnets, Oh My!

My cold somewhat alleviated, I spent today sticking my proverbial (but now clear) nose back on the not-so-proverbial grindstone. Here's my desk setup for a hefty revision session, which occupied the better part of my day and was still less fruitful than I'd hoped. Alas.

DPP 12: Going A-Caroling

In mid-December of each year I have been at St Andrews, the University has sponsored a carol service for as many students and staff members as are able to fit into Holy Trinity Church without breaking the fire code. This was the first year that I've actually made it into the building (I didn't try during my M.Litt year, being at that time slightly more concerned with three essays with looming deadlines and a laptop cord that was trying to light itself on fire). This feat of entrance was accomplished by arriving at 6.45 for the 8.00 service and waiting in the queue until nearly half past 7 (we were joined by friends for the latter half of this time). Tonight I offer two photographs: the interior of the church, decorated for Christmas and filled with eager young students, and a random cupcake Isaac and I were given while we queued. Great elegant things, and small delicious ones: neither Isaac nor I could decide between the two; both blessed us very much tonight.

DPP 11: Life's Better With Books

Today was frantic and crazy for a whole host of reasons, one of which has unfortunately contributed to the very late blogging of today's photo. A brief moment of respite, however, came during a Christmas party hosted by two very dear friends, at which we enjoyed (left to right on the lower shelf) mulled wine, spiced apple cider, and a White Elephant Book Swap. Isaac and I came home with two books I'm pretty pleased to have won, Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things and Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall.

DPP 10: Coffee Love

As my husband likes to say, "Coffee is the beverage of the people of God, and the cordial of his servants who thirst for wisdom. When coffee is infused into the bowl, it exhales the odor of musk, and is of the color of ink."

I don't know the origin of this quotation, but I'm pretty sure it can be abbreviated to "I like coffee. It tastes good."

DPP 9: Book Wall

Today I spent more than half an hour at the Evil Bank having a cashier's cheque made up (because foreign postgraduate students aren't allowed to have cheques at the Evil Bank) and then more than half an hour in the Post Office (located in an office supply shop/bookstore since the real post office closed) getting said cheque mailed. While in my tedious wait at the post office, I enjoyed a browse through the office supply shelf and a nice view of this wall of cheap books. They have about six similar sets, including books on "romance" and "killers," but I found this wall by far the most intriguing.

DPP 8: Luxuries

I've spent today mostly in bed (and briefly out, when plumbers came to help with the waterfall intermittently cascading down our steps) and have been fairly uninspired to do anything more strenuous than sleeping or reading. These three luxuries currently adorn the mantel in our bedroom, and have done a lot to keep me cheered up while my throat has been panging persistently.

DPP 7: Roast, Sweet Roast

A significant benefit of living in the UK has been the discovery of some truly amazing foods and cooking styles, some of which are delightfully simple.

Take, for example, the Roast:



One bird, plopped atop a few vegetables; sprinkled with olive oil/butter, salt, pepper, and perhaps a dash of vinegar, covered with tinfoil; and stuck in a hot oven for an hour or two, becomes possibly the simplest supper I've ever prepared. Perfection on a platter.