#64 - Titus Groan - Mervyn Peake (Choice: Eamonn's)(Venue: Meson Don Felipe)

Present: Gill, Nic, Jen, Eamonn and special guest star (and honorary member) Liz.
Date: 7th May
Two things can be whole-heartedly agreed:

1. Meeting on the same date (7th) of each month has not been the hoped-for success;
2. Gill and I will turn out for every meeting!  Hardcore, we are.

So, we had a complete failure to meet in April, following a partial failure in March, followed this evening, by agreement that we'll abandon the "7th of the month" in favour of regular Thursday meetings (Jen having mastered the Italian language and no longer being in lessons).  This is likely to find favour with all as it was long the preferred day and an opportunity for a slightly later night than we've allowed ourselves on Mondays and Tuesdays!

Our numbers have also been slightly reduced: Alex is taking a "lurve sabbatical" and Nathalie wants to push on with reading her own choices; but, most embarrassingly, Jennie (as opposed to Jen) was frightened off by the prospect of seeing us again and choosing a book after only one meeting (admittedly that one meeting was "The Messiah" and a robust discussion).  Oh dear - we were trying to be inclusive and instead were just scary. 

Back to tonight.  Sherry to start, red wine to follow with an array of excellent, rustic and very tasty tapas: salted almonds, delicious olive oil (though Liz, in briefly from Italy, was, in preference, lapping up the butter like there was no tomorrow), meats, cheeses, octopus salad, chorizo, patatas bravas and many (really, many) more.  Only the bread was less-than it could be: I fear Jane has turned us all into bread snobs!

The book was not widely discussed and, Eamonn aside, who thoroughly enjoyed it, reaction of those present could be summed up in one word: Groan.

We start a fresh page, with renewed vigour on Thursday 28th June, Jen's choice.  Here's hoping for a good turn out and great book, failing that we'll have as always, excellent company and a slap-up dinner.