Back to work

I went back to work on Friday and have to say that, as the weather is still revolting, the library is a pretty nice place to be. One of the great advantages of working in a library is that you come across all sorts of fascinating books and DVDs . It is lucky that I only do a few hours of circulation desk work a week (I'll tell you all about what I spend the rest of my time doing another day) because I get rather distracted and always come home with lots of new things for me and the kids after any desk shift. I work one in five Saturdays, when the library is staffed by only four people, one reference librarian and three circulation staff. This means that I am on the desk all day, helping people find the information they need. Yesterday I took around an hour and a half to shelve one trolley of books, partly because the shelves were very messy, and partly because I kept finding books I needed to have a good look at! I brought home Ewan and Charley's book of The Long Way Down (so far an excellent companion to the DVDs), a novel called The Binding Chair and a book of photos from the War Memorial for Ron (my father-in-law) to look at. I love my job.


These are the things that are occupying me at the moment. I have had to step back a little from Jane Eyre so as not to develop (further) an unhealthy obsession. I'm really enjoying my iPod, especially when I see my children's mouths move but can't hear a thing that they are saying. As for Nigella, she never fails to satisfy. Since Christmas I have made brandied-bacony chicken, potato and mushroom gratin, Eton mess, cherry cheesecake, chicken schnitzel with bacon and white wine, mirin-glazed salmon, rocky road crunch bars, budino di cioccolato (italian chocolate pudding) and chocolate macaroons. All have been great and there are more Nigella recipes planned for this week.

Toby and Bethany this morning.