Change

“Change is always drawing near. Innovation waits like an offstage actor, primed and ready in the wings, biting its lip and grinning.” 
―  "Things in Jars"  Jess Kidd (2019)

After yesterday's welcome sunshine, today was back to the winter tedium of sunless grey (the photos are not b&w).  When the alarm woke me, I stared out the window, and decided that I would demonstrate my disapproval of this reversion to grey by refusing to get up and face the day. This tantrum lasted until 2pm before I finally gave in and got up. It was still grey so nothing changed - yet, curiously, this indolence that changed nothing outside did in fact change everything inside as it instigated some decisions and plans for change. Boredom will do that.  

This evening was the January meeting of the Chelmsford Book Club at the Two Brewers in town. The book for discussion was 'Things In Jars' by Jess Kidd.  If you haven't read it - well, it's a sort of 21st century penned Victorian gothic penny dreadful, with a convincing blend of Dickensian London inhabited by the pitiful and the appalling, the wretched and the wicked, living (?) anomalies where science and superstition colour curiosity, and a kidnapped child is searched for by Bridie, a female detective who has demons of her own.  Achieved through extravagant use of unusual similes from the start (the opening line of the prologue is "As pale as a grave grub, she's an eyeful.") and some graphic but enviable word smithing, it is engrossing and gross and a mighty fine book for a lively conversation tonight - but 'book at bedtime' it is not.