coffee, Christmas, and conjurations

(I realise that it should have been 'urban sorcery' rather than 'conjurations', but I couldn't think of any other good words beginning with c.)

I am having far too much fun reading the Matthew Swift series by Kate Griffin. Thanks, flemmings -- excellent tip.

Had a good time poking round town and doing my shopping today. There's a new, rather highly-priced but rather nice small coffee shop just a few doors down from the local comic/rpg/manga/etc shop, so naturally I was obliged to try it out, and the coffee was certainly very good, as was the cake. (Though I'm afraid they don't do chai, archangelbeth.) Definitely one to remember for those occasions when I feel like an (expensive) treat.

Shops are, of course, already full of Christmas stuff. The Christmas lights are up. There is a Christmas tree in one of the square areas that could be described as fairly central. Mince pies, stollen, and so on pack the shelves. All far too early. Bah. Especially as I refuse to buy/eat any mince pies till the first Sunday in Advent. This heroic self-control had better be worth something. I like mince pies.

---

"Please don't waste my time with the usual inadequate excuses, Mr Swift. 'I just happened to be playing with the bones of the dead' or 'It just so fell out that I accidentally summoned the spirit of a thousand shards of falling glass' or other feeble tales. I really don't care how the injury was inflicted, I simply need the full information to make a good diagnosis."

[...]

". . . Mr Swift, did you bother to consider some of the medical implications of being injured by a creature of pure darkness before you rashly engaged it in mortal combat? I doubt it. Young people never do."

A Madness of Angels, Kate Griffin