Where to get your coffee from

Guests at my house are often diplomatic about our choice of furniture, and turn a blind eye to the state of the garden, but one thing I do get compliments about is the coffee we brew.  I claim no credit for this, as it is a blend my partner puts together.  I won't tell you exactly how she does it (I couldn't - even if I knew, but it's an alchemical mystery to me.)  However, I can reveal where we source our raw materials from, and if anyone knows anywhere better in the region, I would love to hear of it. 

It's called "ARCO - all about coffee" and is in central Lichfield.  It's a little place, pleasingly traditional (to the extent of not having a website, at least, one I can find) with a good spread of roasts and tastes. 

Lichfield can be a bit of a trek from Birmingham, I know, but if you are thinking of heading out there, make a day of it, it's a beautiful place - the garden of the Erasmus Darwin house being a favourite of mine.

The return of the King

"To read"

Not necessarily in this order

There was an article on the Guardian website this weekend wondering how many books there is time left to read in your life, and the oppressive shudder of realising that it isn't really all that many. (At my rate I reckon I get through 40

a year these days, a figure that falls year on year as more and more technological delights vie for my time.  Which is not a complaint, by the way).

I feel fairly confident in saying that I am not the only one with a pile of books to read that never seems to get smaller, with additions coming to it at roughly twice the rate that they are cleared.  I've been thinking about whether this is a good thing - is the pile an enticing incentive to keep reading and a reminder of pleasures to come, or is it actually an oppressive reminder that you are never finished?

Morbid chap that I sometimes am, I have wondered what my pile will look like when I die - what books will I intend to read, pick out and order, and then never get to read.  What will be the final book too far? 

All in all I think the "to read pile" is a positive thing - the sight of the tottering tower usually gives me a tiny thrill - a shiver of anticipation that at least one of these books, probably more, are going to grab me my the throat, occupy my imagination completely and keep me up into the small hours day after day.


And whilst that is happening, the pile will keep growing...