The Joys of New Music

"At the End of Paths Taken" by The Cowboy Junkies & The Arcade Fire's "Neon Bible" lighten my drive this morning.

The former is the latest in a line of CDs by a very-favourite band.

The latter is the second offering from a new favourite.

The speed limit is 60mph

So why the *~@! do you insist on braking to 42mph at every speed camera?

England have won the Ashes

And I wasn't aware they were playing for them.

I mean, I knew there was a cricket test between England and Australia; heard the results of the first innings, chatted to colleagues, to a call centre operative about it.

I just hadn't realised this was the final match of the series.

Wine Tasting Notes: Guigal Condrieu 2005

Simply put: outstanding.

Espresso by the riverside

After a gentle swim in the Thames, a picnic with friends, which is nicely rounded off with a cup of fresh espresso courtesy of my wife-bought birthday present, a Handpresso Wild.

Banana custard for dinner

Yum!

Chinese restaurant runs out of rice

Sunday afternoon, Oxfordshire.

TSO and I are entertaining in-laws of various denominations at a local Chinese restaurant. We've proceeded from the starters, through the duck course, to the mains.

As the waitress starts to bring the main courses out, she announces that she is sorry, but there is no more steamed rice.

A beat.

As one, we glance at one another, then at the dish of egg fried rice, quietly steaming on the lazy Susan, then back at the waitress.

"You've run out of rice?" Someone asks.

"Boiled rice, yes," admits the waitress. "And beansprouts."

"So what can we have?"

"Plain noodles," the waitress suggests. "Noodles, onions, beansprouts."

"So there's really no rice?" Another someone persists.

"Erm, excuse me, did you say beansprouts?" Someone else asks.

"Yes, fried rice," the waitress responds. "Special fried rice, yes."

"What?"

"So you have special fried rice?"

"Yes."

"That's fine."

The waitress does a very prompt volte-face and we are left staring at one another, various stages of incredulity on our faces.

"They've run out of rice -"

"- in a Chinese restaurant?"

"Boiled rice. They have special fried rice."

We look at our plates and dishes, wondering just how freshly prepared the food is.

The lazy Susan remains motionless.