it's four in the morning and i have just got off the phone with von, who is in the office. that statement, naturally, was intended to make you think he is busy and important, but in reality he's just been to a concert and was dropped off back at google by his carpool. the boy wants to retire and become a beach bum. an heiress, i say again, is what you need. still, the working life can't be that bad, for he tells me he is going to uva next term to recruit. lucky devil! i shall advise him on where to eat.

su-lin reports that this conversation took place:

cp said to julian, so who is your hag?
julian: don't know...probably minz?
cp: but minzhi's mine! i've cultivated her for a long time! years and years. came out to her! wrote nursery rhymes together! etc!

me to su-lin when i heard: but weren't you offended when he didn't say it was you?
su-lin: oh but cp claims everyone.
me: right, but what's he ever done for you?
su-lin: manchester.
(this refers to how, when they were in uni, he went all the way to manchester to meet her train at 5 in the morning. cp never fails to produce this trump card in arguments.)
me: right. lovely. but what has he ever done since?