A birthday, and three quick recs

Happy Birthday, bottle_of_smoke! You've had such an incredible year, I don't think I can wish for anything more fervently than I did for you to have a head cold (we know why that was good!), but I do hope that everyone surpasses themselves in the gifts, cake and enjoyable fuss stakes on your behalf. You're a gem!

And, fanfic recs!

I am dipping in and out of hd_erised like a weak-willed swimmer at a cold beach. It's revoltingly hot or humid here most days, so in theory I have loads of reading time. In actuality, I have a disastrous house and garden after two months of Mr B 'doing' the housework and we still have boxes to unpack, so I am forcing myself to do things and then need brief comas to recover, so I've not made it through half as much as I ought. But I come bearing some real treats!

Firstly, my gift art! I don't know why more people don't request art, because you are likely to be on such a winning bet if you do. And I won hugely! It's a multi-page work called Fiji and it's utterly fabulous. The faces! The eyes! The hands! The story is simple: Hermione goes on holidays, so Harry is free to skive off, taking his grumpy assistant Draco with him. But the emotion that comes through the simple marks on paper is astonishing and beautiful, as is all this artist's work.

And now, fics! I think that Tea and No Sympathy was the first I managed to catch, and it was such a good start! It's long, 70K, but written in such an engaging style that it never feels as though you are labouring. Basically, Draco spells himself into a Groundhog Day style loop and becomes convinced that he needs Potter to get him out of it. I loved the fact that the author held out for a non-easy end on this one, it really paid off dramatically. A sterling blend of humour and drama, and with the most splendid little owl OC. No, trust me, Pip the Owl is totally a fully fledged (pun intended) character!

Similarly assured in its writing was House Style for Gryffindors. It's a fifth the length of Tea and No Sympathy, so if you're pushed for time, start here. Draco works on a wizarding version of the Tatler, along with half his schoolmates, including Hermione Granger. When editor Pansy hires Harry Potter for sports and general buffness, Draco takes refuge first in prossecco, then in refuge, and finally in denial. None of these work. It's the best kind of silliness, loaded with light, sparklng wit, but with a few moments that make you pause and say 'Oh …'

And I do have more, but my left hand is still meh, so I'll come back later. Have a marvellous New Year, you lot!

Oh, kitten …

We have a lot of fireworks in Sydney at New Year, so I was determined to get the cats in before they started. Monster was sitting patiently at the door, because she is a good cat. Cookie had clearly gone over the fence, which is her new thing, following Satan's Own Kitty. However, one good shake of the kibble bag and she came home a few minutes later. No sign of Rusketus.

I shook the kibble bag again. Nothing.

I tapped on the gushy food tin. Nothing.

The first firework banged. KITTEN! Looking like this:



Yes, he is wet (and licking gushy food from his teeth). From the smell, we think he may have fallen into a fishpond rather than been hosed. He wasn't fishing, as the top of his head is the only completely dry part and his front paws were much drier than his back ones. He has required many cuddles. Shame about the slight pong.

On a less smelly note:
A very happy birthday to hollyxu! You are such a kind soul, I hope that this year is filled with ease and people who rightly love you, and gifts! Fabulous gifts!

Happy Birthday, too, to aella_irene! I hope that this is a year of extremely successful writing for you, and that all the people who have unwittingly inspired you are even now organising for you to have cake, ever so much cake!

And finally, a very happy birthday to zeitgeistic! Have a lovely 30th and may you need to move exactly 0 times this year, unless it is for scads of cash and with professional movers! MWAH! All the giftage, my friend!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO NEW ZEALAND! It's just kicked off there, and I hope that the rest of us see in the change of the Gregorian calendar with joy and peace or peace shattered only by fireworks and giggling.