Of Tea, Cake and Other Matters of Importance

How come the first day back at work after annual leave always seems to last twice as long as usual? Anyway, Monday ground to an end eventually.

Tuesday afternoon was equally thrilling, bring stuck in an over-heated room on my own while working though a series of online training videos. You watch the video then answer the question which pops up at the video's end. The questions are multiple choice and wouldn't challenge the IQ of a newt, but I dutifully sat though it all - mostly looking out of the widow while the videos chattered to themselves. I scored 100% for each course, not because I'm a genius but because the courses really are that simple.

When I arrived home, a parcel was waiting for me. I knew what it contained even before I carefully opened it - my latest eBay find, which is a gorgeous vintage baby doll made by Armand Marseille, who sounds French but was actually born in Russia in 1856. He moved to Germany in the 1860s, and bought a porcelain factory which he re-named after himself, and there he began a successful business making dolls heads in various designs.

This doll has glass eyes which close, and a beautifully turned face delicately coloured. A blush of pale ginger tint covers its scalp, a hint of the red hair which would grow later if this had been a real baby. The porcelain hands and head/face are in excellent condition; no chips or discolouration. The cloth body is in reasonable condition too, though is beginning to look a little delicate along some seams - no surprise, considering its vintage. The raised "AM" stamp is clear on the back of the neck. Naming this new addition to my little collection is easy considering the manufacturer, red hair and my own undiminished Ricean obsessions: it's Armand, of course.

I'm enjoying a week of lazing around at home, doing as little as possible while enjoying every minute of it. It's nice to be able to cast off the usual routine imposed by the necessities of life.

Had lunch with friends who I'd not seen in a while, which is always a pleasure.

Like pretty much everyone else in Britain, I've been watching the Brexit shenanigans grind on. I voted to remain a part of the European Union and have not changed my views or, indeed, my reasons. Our floundering government has been "history unfolding" as the public were informed by one MP only yesterday. How will history view this absurd situation? Not with kindness or tolerance for the transparent delay tactics being performed in parliament. Have none of them the backbone to simply address this nation and say, "Leaving Europe is a stupid idea because..."? Evidently not.

Anyway, I did not intend to spout off about politics... Instead, I'll reach for a fresh pot of tea and crack open one of the new books I bought earlier this week - but not before I explore this site a little.