planet impiazzi

Went on a work 'away day' yesterday, to York Environment Centre at St Nicholas' Fields in York. We spent the morning doing a few 'mind gym' exercises, then after lunch went out into the nature reserve to do some balsam bashing. That was fine, except for the stinging nettles and brambles - my arms are a mass of scratches and itchy nettle stings. Half of the team were wearing shorts, and they gave up and found something else to do after half an hour. Anyway, we found a good riverside pub afterwards, and (apart from the mind gym) a good day was had.

I really enjoyed this book. Written in a matter-of-fact style (in translation) about very bizarre events, it was a very refreshing read. The main character, a writer, has a pet penguin that he keeps in his little flat, and the story describes what happens when he (the man, not the penguin) is given a job writing obituaries for a newspaper. I won't tell you anymore, because this story is so neatly written that there is no superfluousness - every word is pertinent, no frills, and I wouldn't want to spoil it for you. Suffice to say, it is a fine tale, touched with wry humour, and I would highly recommend it.