this morning the phone rings long and loudly and it is julian. hello darling! he said to me. oh darling i said to him it is cruel of you to call me at this hour! (i didn't know what hour it was, but it was quite cruel all the same.) julian said (i detect crossness) yes but the day before i called at 4.30 in the afternoon and you were asleep too! should i call you at 2 in the morning?! oh oh two would be lovely and yes yes but i only got to sleep at 6 this morning oh oh oh what what? i said, falling back asleep. pull yourself together, the imperious and impatient julian says, and get over this jetlag and come out and meet me. yes, i agreed humbly. and then my mother comes in and tells me it is 11.30 and they are all going out and there is some charsiew pau in the ricecooker.