Paper Rules!

 

My research into Huxley has ground to a halt.  Again.  Or at least part of it.

     We keep hearing about how much information is ‘online’ and has been digitised.  And it is amazing just how much you can find out by using the internet, as you zip around the world visiting institutions and cultural centres and drawing on resources (that are freely available and searchable) that you become complacent and begin to expect ALL information to be available at the tap of a few computer keys.

     But this is an illusion.  In one aspect of my research for example, I can go online and see where in a collection information that I need might be, but the details of that information are only available if I turn up at the library and physically search the archives.

     In some ways of course, this is part of what research is all about, going to a library and actually touching the books, letters and accounts that exist in a mass of documentation, and emerging with the salient information necessary to make your point.

     My problem is the information I require is in a special collection in the University of Reading and not in a library in Barcelona a few km down the road.  Pity.

     There is another solution, and that is to get a researcher who is already in Britain to do some research on your behalf.  I am investigating this option, but there are, as you can imagine, a certain number of practical problems about that.  Still, letters have been sent off and I await developments with interest.

     Nearer to home, tomorrow will take us to Barcelona for to me see (and more importantly listen to) a second performance of Aida.  It will be interesting to see if the two people who will be accompanying me tomorrow share my evaluation of the production.

 

Meanwhile the correct ingredients for a Sangria de Cava continue to be the subject of some considerable discussion, but I think that I have now settled on a recipe that will satisfy.  It remains to be seen if my guests agree with me!

 

I'll drink to that!

 

 

Today is to be a day given over to the completion of tasks.

     A fine start, and that statement would be more impressive if it was not being written at ten past four in the afternoon, but resolve is resolve, however late the commencement.

     I wrote a list of Things To Do while having my after-swim cup of tea, a well-earned cup, considering that I was loath to get up to go to the pool this morning.  But shame (or some comparable emotion) motivated me to attempt a cursory wash and more thorough brushing of my teeth, and I was (reluctantly) good to go.  And go I went.

     A moderate swim, where all my customary exercises and lengths were completed in water that was my-friend-Carles-cold, but ideal for swimming for me.  I sometimes think that it is only in the waters of the Caribbean than Carles would be satisfied – whereas I have never really got over the shock of retreating from the clammy heat of our Mexican resort and not finding the cold, invigorating shock of British waters that I was more used to, but something more bath-water-warm!

     In a temperature of only 17C I sat and wrote, wondering as I did so whether the weather was going to be sufficiently cosy for us to celebrate my birthday, later in the month, outside - as I fully intend to.

     At my last Birthday Lunch, I have to admit that not a great deal of food passed my lips, but rather a considerable quantity of home-made punch.  I had a thoroughly good time, but I do not intend to repeat the proportions of that repast.  For my birthday this year round I have determined that the drink (inter alia) will be Sangria de Cava, and that the food will be again provided by my friend who had a pollo a last in the town centre.  He did us proud last time round, so I intend to repeat the order - and this time eat some of it.

     As the centrepiece of the meal will be suckling pig (which I will have him divvy up into individual portions) I felt that the Cava ought to be of a superior quality, even if it is to be augmented with juice, fruit, pop and liqueur, and to that end I searched through the Internet hand have found a site that offers a decent Cava at a very much more than decent price. 

     Those who do not live in Catalonia (the Home of Cava) have to understand that it is more than possible to find a drinkable Cava for less than three quid, so one is able to splash out a little and get something presentable for nowhere near the exorbitant price of Champagne.  I have, therefore, taken a chance and have ordered a limited-edition Cava (in a very nice and stylish bottle, and yes, I am shallow enough to be persuaded by design) which should be delivered well in advance of the event itself.  Even the Cointreau and Spanish Brandy are not as expensive as they would be in the UK, so one is able to be a little freer with regard to the ‘body’ of the Sangria than at home!

     And that is as far as my planning has gone so far.  Although completion of this blog is another task done. 

     So, progress is being made!