Cookery; Thai food; Samhain

Met at Lesley’s flat on Thursday to discuss Sarah Waters’ The Night Watch, and eat spaghetti (actually penne) Bolognese with lashings of garlic bread. There seems to be a slightly worrying new trend emerging whereby whoever is hosting Book Group actually cooks food, as opposed to opening packets of crisps and dip or handing round the takeaway menu. Not sure how I’m going to handle this when it’s my turn, but given whole ongoing Milton Keynes extravaganza will probably be able to plead lack of time.

Seasonal display

Ruth and I went for an unnecessary dinner at the Suwanna on Friday evening, almost directly following on from one of our periodic vows to spend less money on eating out. Lovely food as always, especially the Weeping Tiger – the comment about the restaurant’s being overlit is about the only part of the eatmytown review above that’s accurate. The Old Siam in The Walk is more atmospherically lit, but I had indigestion for the rest of the evening the last time I ate there. I like the Thai Corner on West Street, but Ruth doesn’t. What can you do?

Marked Samhain this year by setting up a small display of black candle, mini pumpkin and autumn leaves on the coffee table at the flat – don’t have a fireplace here, but then the bunnies have ruled out fireplace displays anyway. Ray, who has become surprisingly enthusiastic about marking pagan festivals, came up for the evening to admire the display and mark the occasion. We didn’t indulge in any spells or incantations – largely because I don’t know any – but I read aloud the entry on Samhain from ‘Principles of Paganism’. This remarkable photograph (left) clearly shows a mystical beam of light emanating from my eyes, so something otherworldly may indeed have happened.