Aaaaaaaaah

SO and I had our inaugural veg-out in our new library last night. I suppose to avoid confusion with our new Community Library we should call it 'the study' or 'the den' or some-such, but no, actually, it is a library. Floor to ceiling shelves full of (mostly) books, two leather armchairs, (pretend) fireplace, Turkish rugs, brocaded curtains, small-but-perfectly-formed telly, it's a lovely room.

So last night we wallowed in coffee, chocolate cake, armagnac and West Wing 7.

I revell in that show. The characters are compelling, the insight into government processes illuminating, and the dialogue crackles like static electricity. Getting back into that world was like slipping into a hot bath with a good book. I know who the leak is, I know who wins the election, but I don't care - it's a rare treat to see a good story well told.

I used to think that is epitomised a certain schizophrenia of the US of A's, but latterly I'm not so sure. As an extended ad for the Democratic Party I'm surprised it doesn't have the Republicans howling for blood. And of course it teaches more about the American system of government that any number of civics lessons. I do wonder, though, if there are young men finding themselves drawn into politics because of the statisticallly improbable number of young, fit,long-blonde-haired women staffing the White House.


ps In total contrast I also finally watched the last-ever episodes of Dibley. Apart from the crashing disappointment at how shoddy the writing was, why has no-one mentioned the startling similarity of Geraldine Grainger's and Caroline Todd's reaction to being finally married? Is James Henry sleeping with Richard Curtis? I think we should be told.