It's all about the Swedes

I've been absolutely laughing my head off about the career counsellor with the predilection for root vegetables in The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work. I laughed until I nearly choked (well I was lying in bed at the time) at the following reference:
"The couple were admirably fond of some of the less popular vegetables in the English repertoire, for at most times of the day - even in the early morning - the place smelt powerfully of freshly boiled cabbage or swede."
I can't tell you why, but there are several references to the counsellor and his wife's culinary love and these observations made me extremely giggly. I guess they're interspersed between serious career moments and that's just how it is with vegetables.
When I laugh in bed, the King gets tossed around, but he seems to be made of sturdy stuff and copes fairly well with the quiltquake.

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Everything's vivid

With my nose firmly in Alain de Botton's new book, The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, I have been refreshed in my view of the world.
Yesterday I had to go into the city for an appointment after several days of being home ill.
It seemed to me that everyone was from central casting: immensely colourful in their own way, yet typical.
Two women at the noodle bar at David Jones sipped on their wines and discussed children, home decorating, friends and their next lunch, while the people cooking and serving us were on full display in their work mode. It was all remarkably vivid. I guess I was paying attention.
In the watch repair shop, I was one of several customers - the young woman getting a charm fixed to her bracelet, the stylishly dressed handsome black guy who was getting something done to what appeared to be a diamond-encrusted watch (matching his diamond encrusted pinky ring). The watch was roughly the size of a large sample pot of moisturiser. I felt like I was in a dream when he showed his Florida driving license [as ID, I guess]. An older woman was getting impatient because whatever she was waiting for wasn't ready and she was going overseas the next day, with many tasks and engagements to fulfil before she left. Again, remarkably vivid moments that may have passed me by, if not for reading yet another marvellous book by Alain de Botton.


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