It has not been quiet in my head. I am furiously working on the edits for ‘The Novel in the Viola’ and am currently lost in spring 1940. Thank you so much for all the gorgeous comments you’ve been posting about ‘Mr R’ — I will reply to you all, it is just taking me a little longer than usual.

Did you know that the winter of 1939/ 40 was so cold that the newspapers were banned from mentioning it? They didn’t want the Germans to know the effect that the freeze was having on the nation. Weather forecasts were forbidden anyway but mention of the snow and ice was specifically banned. I do wonder how they managed… not with the cold, we British take pride in our stoicism, but fancy not being able to discuss the weather? Whatever did people find to talk about?