Ulysses and London's Siren Song...

Dear Juliet

London calls with her siren song and the government may soon fall, but I'll light a candle for you and Tony at the cathedral, and walk standfast by the Thames in Shakespeare's steps...

I should avoid any situation like this. The closest I got to anything like that was my talk at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) years ago. The article didn't make it into the Huffington Post, but there is this picture:












As well as being a Chaplin Books author, Harriet Tadikonda (pictured with me) was an RAF flight-lieutenant and a big fan of Drusilla. I'm not exactly Daniel Craig, but at least I did get to walk into the MoD a little like this, albeit without the Aston Martin...

And don't worry, I don't expect anything untoward to happen when I'm at Westminster tomorrow and Friday. I'll call in immediately I get back unless I have another pizza at that nice place I found in Birmingham New Street station last night.

Do you like anchovies?

Just wondered.

I think you've had a tough few days, and there are times life tells you either to hide under the duvet or take time away.

Take a look at Point Lobos. It doesn't seem too hot or sunny today, a perfect antidote to the buzz of London or L.A.

Things will be okay. You are as you are, that always held sway, and tomorrow is another day.

Maybe paraphrasing Ulysses (spoken movingly by Judi Dench in Skyfall) will help me find the words to say what I must say.

You and I...

Maybe we are no more that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven

But that which we are, we are

One equal temper of heroic hearts

Made weak by time and fate but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.

Love,

James



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