Greetings!
This week’s “Start the week” has several very short pieces that I hope will brighten your day, including a bike ride, a sax solo, and, by popular demand, another episode of Inside Freedman Towers, plus other stuff.
But enough of this persiflage! On with the newsletter.
Terry
Some clues for the Deadly at Midnight puzzle.
Never let it be said that I would willingly stand by while my readers are floundering in the dark in their attempts to solve the puzzle I set in my Deadly at Midnight review. I wrote:
"There is something special about this book review. What do you think it is? Please say in the comments."
Here are some clues. I’ll reveal the answer soon. I shared these clues with paid subscribers, before publishing them more widely.
1. The issue is with the book, not the content of the book.
2. Think about the name of the character Jason Fox.
3. Think about the reported interview with the author.
4. Think about the supposed structure of the book, and that of the series as a whole.
I will reveal the answer very soon.
Cycle ride from Liverpool Street station to Shoreditch
There was a time when we were quite scared doing this particular journey, because of the traffic. But the roads are well laid out for cyclists, we are more confident, and motorists in these parts are pretty considerate.
The ride, which is only five minutes long, begins at Liverpool Street station in London and finishes almost at Shoreditch.
Why go paid?
Either cos you love the stuff I write and would like to show your support, or to get access to the Tuesday posts in which I delve behind the scenes, give tips, and all that sort of thing. You could have a look at the one coming out tomorrow by clicking on the free trial option that will appear in the post. Or you could just upgrade now. Or subscribe for free if you haven’t done so already (why not? 😠)
Zen learning
In a comment on my article on solitude,
said:In Zen philosophy there’s an emphasis on the beginners mind which is an empty mind capable of receiving new information, of learning.
It reminded me of a Zen story I read once. A university professor goes to see a Zen master to ask him to teach him about Zen. The Zen master says OK, let’s have some tea first. He pours the tea from the teapot into the cup, but doesn’t stop when the cup is full. The tea is overflowing and spilling all over the place.
Eventually, the professor can contain himself no longer:
“Stop! No more will go in!”
The Zen master says you are like this cup. No more will go in until you empty yourself of all your preconceptions.”
Inside Freedman Towers #3: out damned spot
Lord Terry and Elaine are in the kitchen. “Look”, says Terry. “There’s a spot of tomato sauce on this surface, so I’m going to wipe it with this cloth. And now, having done that, what I also like to do — and this is my personal touch — is hold the cloth down onto the spot while I rotate my body instead. Not only does this put extra pressure through my finger, resulting in more efficient spot removal, it also helps to keep my body toned.”
On saying this, Terry slapped his stomach to indicate how taut and flat it is1. At this, Elaine burst out laughing. Unfortunately, she had just taken a sip of some water, and the result was as dramatic as it was predictable.
Bedside photo
Book review
reviewed a book that bears my name as the author. But it’s a review with a difference.Mystery book review clues
Some clues for the Deadly at Midnight puzzle.
Never let it be said that I would willingly stand by while my readers are floundering in the dark in their attempts to solve the puzzle I set in my Deadly at Midnight review. I wrote:
"There is something special about this book review. What do you think it is? Please say in the comments."
Here are some clues. I’ll reveal the answer soon. I shared these clues with paid subscribers, before publishing them more widely.
1. The issue is with the book, not the content of the book.
2. Think about the name of the character Jason Fox.
3. Think about the reported interview with the author.
4. Think about the supposed structure of the book, and that of the series as a whole.
Urgent
I haven’t practised the sax as much as I should have, but I think listening is a good thing to do as well. I really like the sax playing in this number by Foreigner:
Iron and steel
I loved teaching. My age group was secondary school kids. We often had a good laugh. This conversation took place once:
Year 82 pupil: What do your mum and dad do for a living, Sir?
Me: They’re in the iron and steel business.
Pupil: Really?
Me: Yes. Dad does the stealing and mum takes in the ironing.
Carry on not talking
commented on my Solitude post, saying that she is the most unsociable person she knows. So I thought that if we ever meet in real life we might spend a pleasant afternoon saying nothing. That reminded me of a conversation I had with my father-in-law a couple of years ago.The four of us, Elaine’s ma and pa, Elaine and I were sitting in the garden. Elaine and her mum were chatting, her dad was reading New Scientist, and I was reading a book. After a while Elaine and her mum went inside. Ten minutes later her dad said to me, “Where are the ladies?”. I said, “They’ve gone inside to make tea, so we can carry on not talking to each other!” Then we fell about laughing! 🤣
Other articles
My next article, for paid subscribers, will be out tomorrow. My next article for everyone is likely to be next Sunday (because I have to write a response to Nathan’s post referred to above and two guest posts for other newsletters, these being Writing in Company by
and ) . If you can’t wait that long, check out any articles you may have missed:Experiments in style: advertisement version — a short story in the style of an advertisement.
Start the week #33 Like this post, but last week.
Insider peeks #1 Behind the scenes at Freedman Towers (serious stuff, not like the jokey one here)
Reply to Rebecca #18 My ongoing correspondence with Rebecca, who writes the fabulous newsletter
How to conduct online meetings (very tongue in cheek)
Solitude and Isolation: an essay. Some wonderfully thought-provoking comments there.
That essay on solitude was written for the Soaring Twenties Social Club. See this amazing collection of new writing under the theme of ‘Isolation’: Symposium #14: Isolation.
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I hope you have enjoyed this start of the week. Feel free to comment, share and subscribe.
All the best
Terry
When looked at from a particular angle and in subdued lighting.
12-13 year-old.
I liked the bike ride Terry. Looks like she was outpacing you there for a minute. It looks terrifying to ride with all that traffic and those people. I don't live in an area where there are so many people walking across the street.
🤣 RE: Inside Freedman Towers #3
Sometimes I wonder how you read all of the books you're required to read. And still have time to write and reply to all of us.
A super start to the week, Terry! I enjoyed the latest episode of 'Inside Freedman Towers' - and the story about you and your father-in-law was a hoot!
You're so brave to cycle in the city like that! I was having kittens just watching it... 🫣
Is the lightbulb missing from your bedside light? Your night vision must be incredible if you've got all that reading on the go and nothing to see by! 🤣
(Nice pirate ship, btw! 🏴☠️)
😊😊😊