This week marks my return to the real world after a few dreamy Christmas weeks of reading trash, eating trash and smoking far too many cigarettes. And, Good God, but the real world is a vile place to be. It's all "Do this, Madeleine! Wake up, Madeleine! Stop smoking, Madeleine! Not dressed like that you don't, Madeleine!" And that's just me shouting at myself. Imagine what other people say to me. We welcome the return of Mark Casarotto, Lord of Smut. He's always nice about me. I like that in a man. Or woman. Rachel Fruitloop said: Madeleine wrote: "Laura, I hope you realise this means I am forced to kidnap you, drive you to the Mexican border and marry you. Neither of us have any choice in the matter, I'm afraid." Where should we send the wedding pressies!? Hmm, not sure about the presents. I mean, it's not so much a wedding, more a leather-bound night of passion at the Mexican border, but if you'd like to send us gifts to celebrate, you're more than welcome. Laura would like a puppy, books and chocolate (a puppy? ewwww. twee as fuck). I'd like, you know, shiny stuff. Oh, and a hip flask, please. Belated Reporting Back: I had a very enjoyable time in London this week. Present were Sir David of Stankin, Ken, Dimitra, Jeremy, Marianna, Stevie Trousers and... erm... me. El vino did flow (Honey and Linda should notice this). El bullshit was spoken. I got lost, but happily. London's, like, dead big. So big it's almost showing off, I think. Everyone was kind and generous and amusing and charming. I got rather drunk, due to my boundless excitement every time lasties is called. Something happens to me and I go to the bar for a pint and return with a pint and a double Jack Daniels. This reflex is completely beyond my control. Ken, the host with the most, managed to entice not one but TWO girls back to his house. In Milton Keynes, no less. Milton Keynes is a town for roundabout enthuiasts everywhere. I spent a sickly few hours at MK train station, trying hard not to puke and/or run off back to Leicester. Then Ken arrived, like a dream, dressed in his business man costume and bought me a sandwich and I was ready to face the world again! I went to the British Library in London and was awed into a very rare silence. It was stunning, all gentle, low lights and reverent hush. I saw the original manuscripts of Seamus Heaney's poetry and Jane Eyre by a Bronte (I always forget which one wrote what) and Ulysses by James Joyce. And the library is so HUGE, it took my breath away and made me long for the day that I am a real librarian. All the quiet and soft lighting and books books books as far as the eye can see. Although that's not very far at the moment, as I am beginning to suspect I need specs. I spent much time in London squinting at things and looking even more touristy than I normally do. Thanks to Helen McLean (and Jim) for my Christmas parcel, which arrived this morning. It's wonderful! Fluffy dice are now hanging above my head as I listen to my mix tape and make rude words with my magnetic letters. Kyla wrote an interesting post, and others on the same subject have given me things to think about. Not reached any conclusions, though. I suppose I should have some sort of definitive stance on the subject, given that I've had a girlfriend for the past 2 and a half years, but I don't. I don't feel comfortable with labels, although sometimes I wander whether this is because I don't feel comfortable with what I am being labelled as (with what I am being labelled). Amy's post about her brother was thoughtful and moving. She knows how much I liked it. Ah, God, this is not good today. Apologies all round. Love Madeleine xxxx _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+