Literary Festival

Lovely friend Sandy offered me a ticket to hear Val McDermid in conversation at the Sheldonian. I’ve worked every weekend and most evenings for 5 weeks now and an evening off was very welcome. Val is always entertaining although I find her books quite light and untaxing - great for a long journey, but not anything that challenges my brain or thinking. She was on good form. Afterwards we tried to have dinner at TapSocial - a great little social enterprise. Our first problem was a raucous table of students whose conversation was made up entirely of shouting which meant we couldn’t actually hear each other. A stripped back pub without soft furnishings looks great, but with nothing to absorb noise it gets very loud. Then a busy kitchen meant a meal mix up. My main course arrived. We said we hadn’t had our starters, so it was taken back to the kitchen. Then returned as I was told I would have to have my starter after my main course as they were too busy. That’s a first! I love the place so we let it go, and compared to what’s going on in the world…. The food was great though.