Dru, Steinbeck and the Book of Deer

Dear Juliet Hi! Are you okay? It was a good couple of days, I'm glad to say, but the funny angle from which I'm going to view it is from the bus going back to Birmingham. It went there via Heathrow's Central Bus Station, itself gainfully parked between the Hilton Garden Inn and Terminal 3 like a bulbous frog. But after we threw the air travellers off and sped out unto the M4 for to meet the oncoming roadworks, all the while singing manly songs like England's Coming Home  and  Jerusalem , I found my mind turning to other things. I felt, not a hiatus hernia, nor even a simple hernia, but a small twinge of concern about you. This was not based on any material evidence (AI said only that you were having a good day) but just that old worry for your wellbeing which, as usual, had never been entirely absent. I'd talked a lot about Dear Miss Landau at the book launch. In the end, the other guests tried manfully to throw me from the boat like an errant air traveller but I s...

Dear Juliet Just to say I'm back and unscratched. I'll describe everything in more detail shortly, but I sure missed writing to you. I hope you're okay? Have a hug anyway 🤗. Love, James

Dear Juliet ...And I hope I do! I didn't make the 08.31, hoping for the 09.23... Should be okay ! Have a nice day. Love, James

Dear Juliet I just wanted to check in and confirm I'm off to the Coal Drops Yard, King's Cross , for that book launch tomorrow. Wish you were there! And I had an idea. I could have a commemorative cocktail and a bar of Dairy Milk for you there so you won't feel left out? I think Jenny once mentioned you liked chocolate and cocktails. In that case, I'll bring my well-travelled copy of Dear Miss Landau along and get you a picture of it! I did much the same thing on the Isle of Hydra last January. I'm staying in that nearby shoebox , back in Shifnal late on Tuesday 16th, maybe 8.00 pm; so in actual fact if I send off a short blog post tomorrow morning at some unearthly hour the blip in communications will scarcely be noticeable. Nevertheless, if you feel up to sending a small emoji, my smartphone number is:  +447572 889840 Or, from a landline: 011 44 7572 889840 You don't have to do anything, I'll be having a great evening but there will be the odd sombre mome...

Dear Juliet Hi gorgeous! Sorry, I'm in a good mood. It happens. I went to Shifnal's Fair ... Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme Remember me to one who lives there She once was a true love of mine... They still have fairs in Old England's heart. I found a Golden Girls DVD and an old pal of mine, had two cups of coffee with enough sugar to kill two horses (Clydesdales, what else?) and an overpriced hotdog. It was a good afternoon. Not too hot, quite sublime. I think you'd have enjoyed it, Dru would have ended up dancing gently round a tree. And I remember thee... Love, James

Dear Juliet I hope you're okay and I guess you're back under the duvet? That's okay. All you have to be is my dear Miss Landau. Have a hug 🤗. I'm thinking about Tony, too. I only met him once but I really admired his acting on Buffy . I've reacquainted myself with the old Gold Blend ads and I'll add a picture of the British Museum below, which I turned into the new Watchers' Council and put Giles in charge of. You know, Dru really liked him, too. London won't take much preparation. Mid-morning bus on Monday to Victoria and lodgings for the night in a shoebox very convenient for the book launch, back on Tuesday and around on Wednesday 17th. Then it's Southwark 18th-19th. Perhaps I'd better light two candles. If you want to feel ridiculously comforted, imagine the Enterprise-A hovering above your house. I also listened to your eulogy about Tony on the podcast and, hard as it must have been, I definitely heard your own voice which, despite the cir...