In shock - post-Plymouth shopping

There is so much 'stuff' in the shops, it made me feel quite ill. It must be living down here, I can no longer cope with lots of people and racks and racks of identikit acrylic ('with 5% wool'!) jumpers in M&S, etc - my fault for going in search of a woolly dressing gown, I'll have to make one.

Michael, I get access to Exeter university library for a fee, but as an alumnus it seemed fairly inexpensive (I did their Creative Writing MA when I first moved down here). I think anyone can apply to be an associate reader, but it's probably a bit more expensive. If you look on the University website, the library site explains it all. I am entitled to 4 books at any one time and for a four week loan, tho' you can renew online if no one else wants them. The downside is having to drive to Exeter to change books. I/We try to time it to see friends, things that are on, or en route to London etc, but it does not always work - especially if a book is unexpectedly recalled; that's the worst, as the overdue fines are swingeing. Mind you, I think I could probaly get most books that I want delivered to K'bridge Library via inter-library loan - they have not let me down yet - but I joined the Uni library mainly to have online access to research journals. As Journal publishers have become ever more protective of copyright, these can now only be accessed on specific terminals actually in the library. It is quite bizarre; each university seems to deal with the subject of associate readers, their lending rights and what they can access, differently.

Paula, I'm willing to give the artistic endeavour a go. I've already had one idea, but have got no further as yet - waiting for 'Atlas' to clear out the 'Summerhouse' (aka 'semi-derelict shed') so I have somewhere to paint without ruining the floor and carpets. Also, can you tell me more about your PTLLS please? Email me privately if you prefer. I need to do something 'out there, with people' and it would also be useful to earn some money while both (hopefully) doing something I'm good at and that will be of good to others.

I'll try the Rose Tremain. So far my only read of hers was 'The Colour' but I have a huge 'to be read' pile. My most wonderful recent read was 'The Great Fire' by Shirley Hazzard. It's basically a lovestory, set post WWII, and beginning in Japan. It is a simple story, but Hazzard's writing is superb; I wanted to rush and devour the book, but at the same time I just did not want it to end. Judging from the Amazon reviews a lot of people don't like the work, considering it, 'pretentious'(!) She is very ... poetic, but I like that. She's one of my heroes, along with Alice Munro, and they are both now in their 80s.

Michael, the idea of a heavier(?) group sounds interesting. A friend and I discusssed something similar a couple of years ago - but then she suggested it could also be a 'singles' club ... which put me right off.