One of the things that makes the medium of television bearable is the fact that it provides Stephen Fry with a comfortable living. His quiz show, the very funny and usually correct
QI, has a wonderful quote book on the market, which I quickly snapped up (when doing freelance subeditorial work, being able to provide fresh material for pullquotes is e mark of a true professional). I have been slowly reading through it and taking the occasional note, my favourite so far is this, mostly for the attribution:
"The most difficult thing in the world is to know how to do a thing and to watch someone else do it wrong without comment."
T.H. White, multi-talented English schoolteacher, storyteller and countryman, who was also a sadomasochistic homosexual and alcoholic. J.K. Rowling claims him as a key influence on the Harry Potter books.
I think it shows.
Also, I was possessed by the spirits of
raitala and
pingrid today, with that of
shiv5468 whispering in my ear. Which is why I now own these shoes.

J came into the shop when I was trying them on. 'Do you want them because they remind you of your fast-fading youth? Or because they make you look like a proper grown-up?' he asked.
'I can see over the counter!' I replied.