Sorry, just quickly, before I forget, has anyone seen a blue jumper? I think I may have left it here last time. Can everyone just have a sort of quick root around for it…sorry…it’s sort of light blue and well, turquoise I suppose if you were going to be fussy…and it’s got the word ‘Stockholm’ embroidered across the front. The funny thing is I actually got it in Holland (Laughs.) not Stockholm as you’d expect! Long story…
No? Nothing? Not to worry, okay not to worry, I may have left it in Ryman’s. I’ll check on my, ooh! What’s that under your chair? Oh no, my mistake, sorry John, as you were, sorry…
Well, I have to say, I was really disappointed by the book, I know, I know. I’m going to be the unpopular one here because everyone else clearly loved it (Another nervous laugh and mimes strangling themselves.) but no, seriously, for me, I’m afraid the character of the fishmonger was just totally unrealistic I’m afraid, um, my father bought and sold fish all his life and I didn’t recognize any of the scenarios that were described in the book. So for me, very well written, but – um – the author obviously hasn’t researched her subject which, to me, is just lazy…so for that reason, I would say 3 out of a possible 5 – would have been a 4 if… well I would have liked just a bit more care, bit more attention to detail…um…failed to ‘reel’ me in I’m afraid, pun very much intended, not a strong enough hook! (Laughs.)
Oh, what was he then?
A blacksmith?
Ahh (Laughter and embarrassment mixed together.)
Ah, well that explains that! Um… I don’t know how I missed that. So he wasn’t a fishmonger then.
Right… A blacksmith…
Right, I’m just trying to work out where I would have got fish from…the son isn’t? Yes that’s right, the son keeps fish doesn’t he, that’s right. Sorry, I got confused. I was thinking about the son.
Well in that case: 5! Top marks, because the bits where he was doing all the blacksmith stuff were spot on, was like being in the room. It was brilliant.
Now, because I can’t make next week, would anyone object massively if we did Watership Down then? I’ve read it so many times and I think everyone here knows my opinion on it. Would that be okay? Thanks everyone.
Blacksmiths…I don’t know how I managed to miss that…I’ve been under a bit of pressure this week…a friend of my uncle’s spontaneously combusted at a barbecue last week…so yeah…