One of the highlights of going to the Chocolate Show today was a panel called "Judging the Judges ( Read more... )

For weeks, I'd been looking forward to eating at Dabbous, but they cancelled at the last minute, thanks to a gas leak. We already had childcare, so I did a quick search around for a different place to eat out. I was after something quite nice food-wise but not particularly formal; C was already out in London and dressed for a casual office day. And ( Read more... )

I was reading an article in Restaurant magazine the other week about "lesser eaten fish", and it profiled one called a "witch ( Read more... )

This article on How the ballpoint pen killed cursive (via andrewducker) reminds me of something ( Read more... )

2002 SFF: M. John Harrison, BSFA: Gwyneth Jones ( Read more... )

Older women rarely get to be protagonists, or otherwise portray as complex and interesting characters. That's a reason why there was a moderate amount of buzz around Harry Connelly's A Key, An Egg, An Unfortunate Remark. Its aging protagonist had adult nephews, and a long career in her past. It's sad that's worthy of remark ( Read more... )

The phrase "bunfight" has been in avid use today, apropos of UK university Clearing, the process by which would-be university students go shopping for last-minute university paces, this year run on an unprecedented scale. (For example, in this THE article.I've assumed from long-casual reading that it meant "a conflict over something relatively ( Read more... )

The first few times Grouting was sent forth from a child's birthday party with a slice of cake wrapped up in a paper napkin, I assumed it was an oversight. They'd forgotten to bring wax paper or tin foil or whatever for wrapping the slice of decorated sponge cake ( Read more... )

There were fewer pieces I felt strongly about in the second semi-final, even if one more country was competing for the same number of places as on Tuesday.

( Second semi-final comments... )

Notes on Eurovision Semi-Final #1 (Spoilers, for any of you who want to watch it still and don't know who's gone through to the final)

Hurray, four female-presenting hosts! Surely that's a first for Eurovision?

The following is in alphabetical order, not performance order.

( Semi-final entries.... )