In praise of the blue shirt: an essay

[storeynicholas]

At the moment, we have seven possible entrants...two of whom (despite the obvious disadvantages to them), sleep between my feet...
NJS[/i]

[Azdak]

At the moment, we have seven possible entrants...two of whom (despite the obvious disadvantages to them), sleep between my feet...
NJS[/i]

It's a shame that you neglect to mention in your book where one might acquire such live feline bedsocks. Don't say I'm going to have to add a pair of these to my list as well! If so, do you consider them more or less essential than the seventeen formal waistcoats I'm already saving up for? And should I insist on their being 'OTC' (Only The Cat)?

[storeynicholas]

At the moment, we have seven possible entrants...two of whom (despite the obvious disadvantages to them), sleep between my feet...
NJS[/i]

It's a shame that you neglect to mention in your book where one might acquire such live feline bedsocks. Don't say I'm going to have to add a pair of these to my list as well! If so, do you consider them more or less essential than the seventeen formal waistcoats I'm already saving up for? And should I insist on their being 'OTC' (Only The Cat)?

The four original kittens appeared in our garden one day (presumably abandoned) and just stayed on; given that there are 2 toms and 2 she-cats (and our laissez faire attitude), the number has increased to 7 but with losses along the way. Overall, I should say that cats are not essential but they are very entertaining and, so far as the waistcoats are concerned, you could, with care, probably halve the number and at least remain well-clothed. You give me, though, a welcome opportunity to explain why there is a reference to the London Lounge only in the list of websites at the end of my book; as it might strike some members as odd that I do not mention the LL more: especially since some members mentioned its imminent publication in the LL. The original script of the book was delivered to the publishers in August 2007. They then had kittens because, although the contract provides for minimum numbers of words and illustrations, it does not specify any maxima and I had, so far as they were concerned, produced far too much (although waistcoat numbers have remained stable throughout). I then had to edit it down myself and redelivered in October 2007. The publishers decided that they would cut it still further. The proofs were sent to me around the time that I joined the LL, in December 2007, and the publishers were adamant that, from that point, only corrections could be made and that no fresh material was to be added, even though, by the time that I redelivered the script, after 4 months' membership of the LL, in early May 2008, I would have liked to have said more about the LL. As it was, I managed to insert, without challenge, a reference to the LL in the list of useful websites. If there were any future edition, I would certainly take the opportunity to give my opinion (just because I would want to; not because the LL needs it) that, in my experience, this place is the best internet site of its kind.
NJS

[Bishop of Briggs]

Most of the Italians pictured on The Sartorialist blog are wearing blue shirts with dark knitted ties. That look seems to be a uniform in the northern cities.

Give up this blog and turn to THE CATORIALIST instead. There you will find a richer range of colors

http://thecatorialist.blogspot.com/

Cats with attitude - what a great site!

[RWS]

. . . . a welcome opportunity to explain why there is a reference to the London Lounge only in the list of websites at the end of my book; as it might strike some members as odd that I do not mention the LL more. . . . in my experience, this place is the best internet site of its kind. . . .

Complete agreement from this much less-knowledgeable observer regarding the quality of the Lounge; but I'd hesitate to trumpet its existence too widely: isn't self-selection a useful augmentation of the work of our gatekeeper?

[storeynicholas]

. . . . a welcome opportunity to explain why there is a reference to the London Lounge only in the list of websites at the end of my book; as it might strike some members as odd that I do not mention the LL more. . . . in my experience, this place is the best internet site of its kind. . . .

Complete agreement from this much less-knowledgeable observer regarding the quality of the Lounge; but I'd hesitant to trumpet its existence too widely: isn't self-selection a useful augmentation of the work of our gatekeeper?

This is partly true (all apart from the knowledge point) but the very nature of the book ensures that nothing is going to get too far!!
NJS