No book blogging on here today but please don't think I have been idle. Click onto the link below and if I have copied it correctly you will be shot across to Vulpes Libris, a blog I always enjoy reading, and see my guest post on short stories:
Am just curled up on the sofa with the latest PD James which is, as always, shaping up to be simply terrific and watching the Prom on BBC4 with a wonderful performance of Sibelius 2nd Symphony conducted by Sir Colin Davis, who is looking remarkably trim for a man in his 80's. It was his 1960 recording of this work that 
introduced me to Sibelius who I now love as one of my favourite composers.
And do you know, that Sir Colin is an excellent knitter??
LATER: o my goodness me what a superlatively wonderful performance the Mahler Youth Orchestra gave. There is no let up in this symphony for any instrument, the players always have to be alert and in full concentration mode for the length of this work, particularly the string sections with the violins being blessed with the most wonderful soaring crescendo towards the end of the last movement. Thunderous applause of course and the lovely Sir Colin taking a bow and then shooting off and leaving the young players to take the plaudits on their own.
When I am sitting in the comfort of my home, curled up in my dressing gown, lovely and comfortable with the privilege of enjoying such wonderful music courtesy of the BBC, then I do not begrudge them my licence fee. Most of the time I do, usually if I accidentally come across Casualty or Holby City or the ghastly Jonathan Ross, but not when the Proms are on. BBC4 are showing Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Phil doing the Brahms second symphony on Sunday evening and on Saturday on BBC2 we have Beethoven night. So a glorious weekend of music to look forward to.
