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I'm taking a few hours off taxes and being interviewed and missing meetings (sorry Lorraine!) to rejoice in birthday presents. I promise I won't blog all the presents I receive, but these are special. You see, a parcel arrived for me from the US today and in it was the substance of much rejoicing. There was my present from last year, entitled "The Great Roll of the Pipe for the First Year of the Reign of King John, Michaelmass 1199." (Susan, you need to know that I opened it at random and the second name of the list was Fulco f. Warini.) There was my present from this year, about which I shall blog on my other blog because yes, it concerns food. There was a cute little digital camera, with which I plan to be exeedingly dangerous. And there were fridge magnets.

I've already spent an hour with the cookbook. I plan to spend much longer with the other book. One thing I shan't do, though, is compare the reality of the time of King John with the bizarre concoction that comprises the new Robin Hood. I've decided it qualifies as a comedy. It's also a very good source for very, very snarky commenatary. People are welcome to drop round on Sunday nights if they yearn to hear the commentary. Ring up first and I'll feed you coffee and chocolate and let you meet my amazing new books.