This is not a food blog. I am almost the most non-foodie person I know. And yet. When in London I am always on a hungry high, waiting for the next plate of something I can't eat in Italy. Dim sum. Persian. Excellent Lebanese. A bottomless glass of ale. Not-too-bad coffee with an exciting view.
The last few days have been spent in London in the lead-up to my appearance at the Penzance Literary Festival, taking place this week. I have lazed in parks, had a beetroot margarita, bought more books and finally - in overheated agony - succumbed to a pair of flattish Campers on sale, which I tried on and my feet refused to allow me to remove. Bliss. No more elegant Italian heels but a pair of cutaway rose-coloured all-leather sandals. Feels like I am walking on cushions.
And Penzance. My first literary festival, where there will be some big names and some debut authors like myself. Flutter flutter! I've read books written by several of the other authors, two of which have given me a feel for a place I never imagined I would visit. Liz Fenwick's The Cornish House and Patrick Gale's A Perfectly Good Man. Great, enticing reads from a magical place I look forward to discovering.
Wish me luck! I'll be speaking with Liz Fenwick on Friday 25th at 2pm, the discussion will be moderated by author Sarah Duncan. I'll be the red-headed one staggering across the stage in a pair of python pumps..
This is so exciting!!! What a life you're living, with your leather sandals and plates of dim sum.
ReplyDeleteGood luck, and we expect to hear all the news about the festival.
Oh I have lots to tell, starting with the scrambled eggs and salmon sitting in front of me in the breakfast room. Amazing Cornish breakfasts! What have I been doing in Italy living on cappuccino e brioche??
DeleteFull report will follow - if my son pays the phone bill back at the ranch!
Hang on, hang on, HANG ON. Penzance is a real actual true place?! Not just the setting of a Gilbert and Sullivan musical?! This has made my day!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Come to Canada in a few months' time and we'll eat together. x
Oh yes I promise it is real and yesterday I saw a JOHNNY-DEPP-PIRATE-LOOKALIKE walking down the street and no it wasn't a vision after my full English breakfast and no I didn't jeopardise my debut writer status by running after him. I just said Oh My God very loudly.
DeleteThe Cornish bitter is excellent.
Oh Canada! If you find me a book signing and an event I'll be over in two shakes of a moose's tail. We are printing DLC in north America and Australia!! Good luck with departure stress and just let go!! Xcat
WIsh I could have been there Cat. Hope it went well.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on North America and Australia!
Thanks Downith! It was a long long way down there and much better weather than last time we met. The talk was fab - I think I almost like public speaking. Interviewer Sarah Duncan was brilliant and really liked the book. Co-debut author Liz Fenwick was marvellous and her book is doing really well.
DeleteNow back to the madhouse and will write up this week. What a gorgeous haven!
Congratulations, Cat! And I must say, I wish I were less of a foodie. My word, Rome about did me in. Pizza, pasta, wine, gelato ... all day, every day! Heaven.
ReplyDeleteBy the by, we stayed at the Donna Camilla Savelli in the Trastavere neighborhood ---- thanks for that recommendation. What a fun place to hang out and have dinner every night after looooooong, painfully hot days, wandering around the city. Loved it.
Cheers to you, missy.
Favoloso Teri! I'm am so glad you enjoyed and that you found refuge from the heat in excellent gelato and cool wine! I really think the food down there is fantastic and yes it gets so stinky hot - only thing to do is have a siesta and walk all night. I love the Forum in the cool!
DeleteWished I could have caught up with you or enticed you to Venice. I'm just in from rainy, Olympic-mad England and it's so hot!
Xcat