Only not, because, as I said, my bit of Brum was fine. I went into town yesterday, because I needed some new shoes for a conference (I ended up getting these http://tinyurl.com/3vwl8ex) and a couple of shirts for the same thing. In case other women are looking to dress smartly in the UK, advanced warning, there are no decent shirts to be had in the high street stores. I know by not wanting to wear see-through material I am impinging on the designers imaginations, but you know, work related conference.

Most vexing.

Birmingham city centre wasn't much different, the only shop that had any damage that I could see was the H & M near the Golden Bull. There was more of a police and security presence than usual, and people were maybe a bit quieter than usual but that was about it.

Book Meme Day 9 - Book You Never Expected To Love

I am going to be telling this all the wrong way round, but, hey it's my meme answer and I can do what I want to.

Every other John le Carre book I have tried to read I have bounced straight off. And I mean every other, I've tried about 4 others, not counting the one I'm not going to read because the pharmaceutical industry is not actually evil.

And yet, I love and adore 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'. I think partly it's the cynical attitude, because no one really believes in any of the causes they're fighting for, it's become a matter of habit. There's a grubby realness about it.

( And also, (many, many spoilers) )

( I mean, the interesting thing is the structure of the book shouldn't work )

( One of the other things I love is how petty everything is )

It's as got great re-readability which given it's a thriller says something about how well it's written. Knowing whodunit doesn't damage the book, in fact, it gives several of the scenes a whole different spin.

( The Other Days )

Well, the dress (see this post - http://redfiona99.livejournal.com/530166.html) didn't fit. Which is annoying. Something even odder happened though, because it wasn't that it didn't fit because it was too small, it was that it was too big around my sides. And it's not like I'm a small 14, I'm stuck in size 15 limbo. I actually tried the 16 on first because, with it being made of elastane, and me being not that small. It was huge on me. So I tried the 14, which was tighter, but still madly baggy around the sides. I'm really confused as to who this dress was designed for and on.

I've still got my old standby dress, which is fine, I'll just have to get a blue wrap to keep my shoulders warm. And new shoes. Which will be done next week, and may require alcohol. I hate shoe shopping. Normally I just buy Hotter Shoes - http://www.hottershoes.com/HotterSite/pages/home/default.asp

which are the most comfortable shoes on the planet. And their size 5 1/2s are. But they don't really do heels and I refuse to wear this dress with flats. It makes me look even shorter than necessary.

~~~~

Other than that, I was home in time to watch the second half of the England v Italy game, and dudes, lay off Mauro Bergamasco, it's not like it's his fault his coach had 1) no scrum-halves and 2) played him wildly out of position.

Anyway, once Italy had an actual, if not brilliant scrum half on, they improved. England didn't. England victory but it was almost as empty a victory as the newspapers will have you believing tomorrow.

Ireland v France was better, a real hum-dinger with O'Driscoll and D'Arcy both scoring tries and the entire team looking happy and cheering each other on and, as a Munster fan I am biased, but Declan Kidney is a miracle worker. And also if I hear anyone say anything mean about BOD, I reserve the right to slap the taste out of their mouths.