(no subject)

My flat is now completely dressed-up for Chanukah, thanks to the help of my friends. The mirror wall is delicately decorated with decals and Sephardi-style cut paper. Also with the occasional bit of tat, thanks to the kindness of a US friend, who sent me an emergency package some years ago. This tat is sadly ageing, but will last me until I find more.

This year, one outside wall is decorated too, and anyone walking down Melrose Drive using the garden of the block of flats (as many do) will admire the giant silver man with square pants, chasing a trail of laser-etched stars. His hands are the hands of G-d and he carries a heart. The whole wall was designed and decorated by two of my favourite children, with occasional stickytaping help from adults.

The menorah for tonight was made of ice, also by one of the children. Candles burn very cold when buried in ice. They also burn exquisitely beautifully, with reflections and swimming depths and, in the background, a silver man with giant square pants, carrying a heart in a deity's hand.

(no subject)

I've read seven review books in seven days. One of them was the new Wheel of Time one. In that same time I did my normal amount of book-based research (another twenty-odd books). I have one more review book to read and then I shall take a whole afternoon off and NOT READ. Maybe.

This is the life of a PhD student in my discipline. I could get to like it. I might need to take measures, however, to maintain the flow of books.