Comments on: Out Stealing Timber IV http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/out-stealing-timber-iv/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:06:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/out-stealing-timber-iv/comment-page-1/#comment-110173 Mark Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:48:39 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=1813#comment-110173 John, that’s one of the most purely pleasing openings I’ve read in a long time. Do continue with this work. I miss new books by you on the shelves. <strong>jb says</strong>: Hi Mark, I fully intend carrying on with this one, so watch the space. But in the meantime my novel, <em><a href="http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/extracts-from-my-novels/extract-from-winged-with-death/" rel="nofollow">Winged with Death</a></em> is due from Flambard in March 2009. John, that’s one of the most purely pleasing openings I’ve read in a long time. Do continue with this work. I miss new books by you on the shelves.

jb says: Hi Mark, I fully intend carrying on with this one, so watch the space. But in the meantime my novel, Winged with Death is due from Flambard in March 2009.

]]> By: Jim Murdoch http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/out-stealing-timber-iv/comment-page-1/#comment-110137 Jim Murdoch Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:09:44 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/?p=1813#comment-110137 You know, if a café doesn't crop up in this thing very soon then I'm going to feel awfully miffed. And no having them wander by one. Oh, no. We want coffee and conversation and whatever Scandinavians dunk in their coffee. <strong>jb says</strong>: It's not going that way, I'm afraid, Jim. I'm at a loss what to offer as consolation. Perhaps this'll fit the bill: <blockquote>My life, since I saw you last, has been one continued hurry; that savage hospitality which knocks a man down with strong liquors, is the devil. I have a sore warfare in this world; the devil, the world, and the flesh, are three formidable foes. The first I generally try to fly from; the second, alas! generally flies from me; but the third is my plague, worse than the ten plagues of Egypt. <em>Robert Burns.</em></blockquote> I particularly love 'savage hospitality', not the deed itself - <em>the object of all hosts being to send every guest drunk to bed if they can</em>, as he expresses it elsewhere - but the phrase, the concept. . . . You know, if a café doesn’t crop up in this thing very soon then I’m going to feel awfully miffed. And no having them wander by one. Oh, no. We want coffee and conversation and whatever Scandinavians dunk in their coffee.

jb says: It’s not going that way, I’m afraid, Jim. I’m at a loss what to offer as consolation. Perhaps this’ll fit the bill:

My life, since I saw you last, has been one continued hurry; that savage hospitality which knocks a man down with strong liquors, is the devil. I have a sore warfare in this world; the devil, the world, and the flesh, are three formidable foes. The first I generally try to fly from; the second, alas! generally flies from me; but the third is my plague, worse than the ten plagues of Egypt.
Robert Burns.

I particularly love ‘savage hospitality’, not the deed itself – the object of all hosts being to send every guest drunk to bed if they can, as he expresses it elsewhere – but the phrase, the concept. . . .

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