Trains and Books

[slemslempike]

Yesterday I spent an awful lot of time on trains. This was entirely worth it, as I got to see glitterboy1 and felinitykat. First of all I went to Cambridge for lunch, in a lovely church where we've been before. I had soup and a scone. With cream and jam. Then I dived into The Haunted Bookshop as I had nearly finished my book, and felt that to rely on the last half not being gripping enough that I would race through it was to tempt fate in an abominable manner. So I got Juliet and the Chalet School, which I raced through on the Peterborough/London leg, and enjoyed very much. I always somehow forget that I like the Tyrol books so much, and Caroline German writes great fill-ins.

In London I went to meet felinitykat in Waterstones Picadilly. I was early, and spent some time wandering around peering into people's faces in case I'd missed Kat, and then retired to the coffee shop so I could put my glasses on and actually recognise her. But we did meet successfully, and retired to the bar and food place upstairs which was really lovely, if somewhat reluctant to serve us. I had lamb tagine which was absolutely delicious. I was sad to leave, but had to hurry to get to the last train before an hour long gap. I made it in plenty of time, actually, and got another book in case Juliet ran out.

I bought Candide, the introduction to which has the nicest spoiler warning ever: New readers are advised that this introduction makes the detail of the plot explicit. I started it on the train, and became conscious that it could look immensely pretentious, and decided to embrace this, staring thoughtfully out of the window while holding the cover at such an angle that people could see that I was thinking Proper Thoughts and not just being gormless. There was a sticker on the front that I went to peel off because it gives the impression that you've just bought it and it's not actually a revisited treasure. Then I noticed that the sticker was "new translation", which was even better. Clearly I was reading it to compare this new translation to an older, better loved translation, and possibly even both translations to the original manuscript and the amended later edition. Similtaneously. I can't help thinking, though, that this would have been better carried off if I had any idea about philosophy and didn't have to keep flipping to the notes at the back. Quite good though.

I also passed the time by wondering what I would do if the train derailed, and imagining various scenarios in which I could be hailed as a hero after saving countless lives. I had to get this up after meeting two insurmountable obstacles.

1) I couldn't work out what kind of injury I could have that would be really impressive in a finishing the lacrosse match with a sprained ankle type way, but wouldn't actually hurt to such an extent that I wouldn't be able to pick people up and carry them to the door to be framed in the blackened doorway by the waiting news cameras.

2) What to say when being feted? It's all very well being modest, but really I have just been brilliant, risking my own life to save small children and the elderly, minimising the devastation of this tragey. But it's so hard to get that across without seeming big headed.

So all in all it's just as well that the trains were almost entirely uneventful.


Today I absolutely must finish my panel work because it's the deadline for it to be emailed to the panel chair, and sadly only one of the pieces is actually ready to go. One is nearly ready but still a bit rubbish in places, and the last piece isn't actually started. I should probably get a move on then.

Comments

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Thanks - Chronographia made it for me, and I like it very much.

[demiurgician.livejournal.com]

And this is why you are one of my favorite people *ever*.

BTW, I always thought that it looked *more* impressive when you flipped to the ntoes in the back, being that it mean you were obviously so well-versed and scholarly that it is immensely important to you to know that they amended the wording in the 1837 edition, and then changed it back when the work was newly-released as a serialization. Or something.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks! I miss you.

I fear that the furrowed brow accompanying the notes belied the idea that it was impressive. Really it's all about Leibniz, as far as the notes tell me.

[sam-t.livejournal.com]

Ah, but the furrowed brow could also mean that you were disagreeing strongly with an editorial decision, or else meditating on your next scholarly article on the subject.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Ooh, good point. I shall have to practise a sardonic eyebrow for another time.

[jekesta]

HELLO! I have just noticed that I forgot to tell you! I think I forgot to tell you, maybe I told you and forgot that I had indeed told you, and am now telling you again, sorry about that, but all the same. Your computer came back! Yesterday! In a pink box. And I was all bah humbug because it was yours and not mine, and I dont' think he'd ever seen anyone be DISAPPOINTED to get a laptop before. But yes. It's here. I don't know if they mended it. I hope they did. Also I hope that the work goes well. Also I love that you pose on trains. Also you are going to hignfy tomorrow, have fun:):):):):):): Also *loves*

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! You hadn't said and now I am very happy. Sorry it wasn't yours though. But it's back and that's terribly exciting and I will be able to look at pornography again. *LOVES YOU BACK VERY HARD* Oh dear that looks wrong next to the last sentence. Not in that way.

[sabethea.livejournal.com]

you are BRILLIANT.

And I regularly feel the need to tell you so :)

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Thank you ver' much! You make me blush.

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

Still bouncing from seeing you yesterday.... I'm glad that the rest of the travelling all went ok, and you had fun with felinitykat.

While I'm sure that you would have been entirely heroic and photogenic, all at the same time, I'm happier with the idea that the train just did what it was supposed to. But there could at least have been someone doing a crossword nearby, to whom you could have leaned over and said, "I think you'll find that the answer is 'Voltaire'."

I hope you've got your work finished for the panel!

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I have indeed - it's been emailed and there's a hard copy ready for the post. AND I got to use the post office online postage thingy for the first time, which was very exciting. It looks terribly professional.

That would have been wonderful. I shall have to look out for people doing crosswords and sit next to them. Preferably yesterdays so that I can look the answers up.

It was lovely to see you - I look forward to the next time.

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

Ooh, exciting online postage thingy! I thought I might have an excuse to use it yesterday, but it turned out that the thing I was posting was just within the ordinary letter size. But I have only one stamp left in my wallet, so maybe I'll be able to use it soon.

I look forward to the next time

Me too!