Lunch with Adele

Yes, yesterday I went off to Manchester -- about a forty minute train-ride -- shopped a bit -- had a bit of a ramble round the wonderful Central Library, where I have spent many happy hours in the past making use of their amazingly good collection of nineteenth-century books and journals -- and then met Adele Geras for lunch. And here we are, in a great japanese noodle-bar restaurant by the name of Tampopo, in Albert Square. I don't think the photo does Adele justice and she kindly says it doesn't do me justice, but I don't think we look too bad for a couple of ladies not in the first flush of youth. The nice and pretty waitress who took the picture said she was going to get the "hunky chef" (her words) in as well, but alas he is only just visible and his hunkiness or lack of it not apparent. We did have fun. We have corresponded by email quite a bit of late, but never met before -- but of course by means of blogs and emails and reading each others' books we felt we knew each other already. There was lots to talk about, including some experiences in common -- boarding school in Sussex, Oxford, early acting careers, daughters called Sophie... Both of us also are vegetarian, so Tampopo was a good choice -- it's not vegetarian but has lots of non-meat on the menu. I had some delicious noodles with peppers and leeks and Adele had a rice dish whose name sounded very much like Cow Pie but clearly wasn't, especially as it began with a Q. And then of course we had pudding -- ginger creme brulee for her, passion-fruit syllabub for me. We drank fizzy water, and toasted dovegreyreader in celebration of her new book deal. Time flew, and we suddenly realised that we were the last ones in the restaurant, so scurried off, me to my train and Adele to her bus. She has kindly said she will let me come and do an interview with her, which I will of course post on here. On the train home I read most of her delightful book Voyage -- the story of a ship full of emigrants going to New York in 1904 -- about which I will write very soon. And finally, here is a  nice picture of Adele .

Comments

[dovegreyreader]

How WONDERFUL to see you both and thanks so much for the fizzy water toast, perhaps we'd better have a big Manchester gathering very soon, I have to meet you all one of these fine days.

[adele geras]

It was a super lunch, Harriet and I'm so glad you came. Dove Grey, maybe Susan could send you on a Book Tour taking in Manchester, when your book comes out? All nice book bloggers are welcome up here any time!

[Karen]

A book bloggers' (and book writers') gathering would be wonderful! Where? When?

[adele geras]

Manchester? In the New Year? Will ponder....any other suggestions? Manchester is sort of the centre of the country if you count Scotland, right?

[Harriet]

Do let's try for this! Manchester would suit me fine but I can easily do London, too.

[Ann]

That sounds really nice. I find book bloggers are very interesting people, just like (most) authors. I agree with Adele; Manchester is very much in the middle of the country. Too much happens in London. Greens is a good vegetarian restaurant not far from Adele's...

[adele geras]

I was in Green's the other day with a friend and I paid £7.50 for a plate which had on it: a bit of hummus and a pitta! So I think we could do better....lots and lots of lovely places to go. Will send out suggestions if everyone really is interested....
Green's used to be very good value but now, alas, I don't think it is any longer.

[Elaine Simpson-Long]

Meeting fellow bloggers is one of the nicest things in the world. I met up with Ex Libris and Bluestalking Reader in Chicago earlier this year and we had a lovely time. Manchester sounds a good meeting point to me.