How to induce mild panic.

I awaken at 04:39. The phone has just received an SMS. (This wouldn't normally wake me, but I had a restless night. And our bed is crap.)

Arkady!
Just arrived at St. Albans station, will be at your place in an hour.

I read it, with some concern in my voice, to redcountess, who has been woken by me getting up (both phones are on her side of the bed). Liz points out the obvious: "It'll be a couple of days old." Check date and time: 07 Nov 14:26. I curse the very concept of text messaging and attempt to get back to sleep after the adrenalin surge. Here's to the Vodafone/T-Mobile gateway and to reliable message systems in general, yet again!

I'm back at w*rk. My esteemed NT-wielding substitute only broke one essential service (the license server) for one afternoon and, upon receipt of the resulting LART, the acolyte does indeed appear to have become faintly enlightened. I have spent the entire day burrowing out from under a two-week mountain of accumulated business refuse.

arkady did swing by for a quick visit, which was vastly cheering. My goodness she's cute and cuddly and a good kisser. Smells and feels damn fine as well.

redcountess not only shares these virtues, but has just offered in email to cook dinner tonight. I will so put out for cooking.

Weekend update when I get around to it. I also found my skeletal report on April Whitby, so I might post that as well.

L*rd, glorious l*rd!

It's not l*rd, though, if it's butter, is it? Good.

• Eight sausages (the mid-range line from Sainsbury's)
• What started as 400g mushrooms (in the fridge two weeks; a bit dried out)
• Two large baking potatoes
• Two half-cobs of corn
• Butter. Mmmmmm.

Bake the potatoes for about forty-five minutes. You've all got your Bee Nilson to hand, haven't you? (By the way, has anyone checked out the update?) So you know they're done when they're softish to the slight squeeze (with a teatowel).

Around this time you should have the water for the corn boiled. Put the corn in. Prick the potatoes - beware the little jet of steam - turn the oven off and leave the potatoes in there.

Start the sausages and the mushrooms - which you will have cut into fairly thin slices, since they're getting dry - frying in butter. A fair bit of butter. Don't fry on the highest heat, because you'll take a bit of time over them - about twenty minutes instead of the usual ten to fifteen.

Serve yourself and your sweetie. More butter on the corn and the potatoes (which will need a fair whack, actually). A bit of salt on the potatoes and corn.

(also posted to food_porn)