I come from the kind of house where if my father saw me with a book in my hand he'd say, "Can you not find something better to do?" - Bernard MacLaverty

On a slippery slope the only way was down.

You sit down to your desk and listen to what's inside your head. Things appear suddenly and unexpectedly. I don't mean it's like inspiration or anything like that but, put it this way, you are there with a 3B pencil in your hand should you hear anything good. If you are in a notion of working, the idea takes root and won't let you go. It puts out twigs and branches. These twigs get leaves and thorns and maybe, if you are lucky, blossoms. And fruit. [...] The worst thing that can happen at a time like this is an interruption. When the interruption is over it's very hard to get the same momentum going again.

A summer insect flew into the metal dome of the Anglepoise and knocked around like a tiny knuckle.