The Aardvark Blog

Books the ultimate consolation
10/07/2016

As the country and indeed the world experiences one of the most fraught periods I have lived through during my lifetime (I was listening to a programme about Edward Heath on R4 last night and it made me think about how much it seems that we are headed back to the 1970's), it occurs to me that it is important to seek out the small pleasures and comforts that help to improve our lives and bring us consolation. 

For me reading brings the most immediate pleasure, and I am spending a little time compiling a list of books to take away to France when we head off on holiday. There always needs to be a meaty biography or history book, some detective stories (not too gory) and some general fiction. I don't tend to take improving or literary fiction away with me. Each book needs to earn its place and there is no point in taking books which you are going to put to the back of the pile and never read. Then there needs to be space for a number of books on wine including Hugh Johnson's timeless Wine Atlas (hold on to your old copy as the section on France is better and the part on spirits was axed from later editions).

Many thanks for all who helped to make the Food and Farm Day on Saturday 9th such a success. We had a great Aardvark team and the music from the Vintage Jazz Revival was top notch! It was their first gig, and we hope to invite them back if they're not too booked up...