New users: Please register in the usual way and then send an email to jasper(at)jasperfforde.com with your username, and write something 'Ffordesque' so we know you are a real reader, and not some idiot trying to flood the forum with dodgy Nike and Gucci gear. Thank you - Jasper
<HTML>As I hinted, Minsky and I are about to take on the case of the elusive Thursday Next Week, but first of all I'd like to draw a little breath after an extremely tiring weekend. I've been down south for the second birthday party of my cute little niece, which has meant a great deal of being driven about, something I'm not very good at. Staying in a Greek hotel where several plates (and a number of the guests) were smashed at a late hour didn't help much either. Great birthday party though, and young Rachael did plenty of what she does best - being irresistibly adorable for the benefit of all her admiring relatives... Also managed to fit in a date with my Welsh friend Paul from the Internet. We sat and had a latte in Sainsbury's coffee shop in Leamington Spa. Not exactly the height of romance, but very practical on a freezing cold morning in a town that neither of us knew well.
Anyway, while I am busy catching up on my sleep, does anyone have any clues regarding the mysterious Week that they feel ought to be spun into the narrative? I can't actually promise anything because it's surprisingly hard work writing a serial in real time (though I do enjoy it), and there are inevitably things I want to put in that won't fit, while other things spring up unbidden and bounce cheerfully into the story, setting off a whole load of new ideas. But if anyone's got any leads they feel I ought to follow, do chuck them in my direction and I'll do my best.
Minsky sends everyone a big purr, by the way. Except certain people who made some unspeakable suggestions (his phrase) regarding cats in another thread...</HTML>
<HTML>Just wanted to let you know, I've been vastly enjoying your and Minsky's adventures, as has the friend who first lent me TEA (who I sent a copy of your serial to, since he doesn't get on the internet often enough to hang out here).</HTML>
<HTML>Many thanks (also on behalf of Minsky, who's out patrolling his territory at the moment). Incidentally, it seems that there just <i>might</i> be another set of LOTR-related adventures on the cards; I deliberately left a few loose ends to encourage David to do some writing, and he may be taking me up on the challenge, so watch out for him. I'm not starting another adventure of my own until I can trust myself to stay awake long enough to type an instalment... zzz... If anyone ever invents the teleport, I want one of the very first reliable models on health grounds...
Still awaiting the dodo (which I genuinely <i>have</i> ordered). It may be that the new story will start when it arrives!</HTML>
<HTML>It might also mean that a bunch of Kenyans were trying to blag their way into the Reebok Stadium without paying. "We're playing Wanderers, honest, ...."
The danger of trying this down at Plainmoor is that they might believe you, and offer you a contract. ("OK, we'll throw in some free tickets to see Bernie Clifton at the Empire, now will you sign?")</HTML>