I had a lovely time talking to BBC London Radio today about Alias Emma, spies, and what it’s like working at the edge of their world. I love radio and podcast interviews! There’s something about the insulated sanctum of a recording booth that invites confessions. Also, I’d much rather talk about where the book began than the book itself. In my case that starts with, “Let me tell you about a spy I used to know.”
One of the first things I did after joining Mastodon was make a donation to my server host. Please do the same if you can. This is how we keep the billionaires out, and I think we've all pretty much had it with billionaires.
This lush floof is 15 years old and as beautiful as ever. Happy
#caturday!
Marie Suzanne was one of the foremost pastel painters of her day and a member of the Academie Royale. This is my favourite of her works, a self-portrait with her teacher, painted c.1760.
This is one of my favourite paintings - The Lady with the Veil by Alexander Roslin (1768). The lady in question is Marie Suzanne Giroust-Roslin - the painter's wife and an accomplished artist in her own right. She was 34 here, 4 years before she died of breast cancer.
At this festive time of year, pity those of us who loathe raisins, for our lives become rather tricky about now.
Battersea Power Station in 1936 by Bill Brandt from his famous series of night photographs of London. Inspired by Brassaï's night photos of Paris, this is a masterpiece.
Look at this little guy on my back steps. Scared of nothing. 🖤