On the river today, along with the cormorants and terns, a new ship came tooling upstream. Not spectacular -- faded red hull, white deck equipment (it's a tanker of some kind) and a blue bridge and smokestack, which are probably not what those things are called but you get the picture. As I say, not an extraordinary ship, but one I was in a mood to notice. I've started a new book, and been writing on it at 100 miles an hour. I've been so absorbed in it that everything else has disappeared. Like being in a high-orbit hermit capsule. But it's time, I think, to re-establish some balance, and contact with the outside world. The funny thing is, I have the sense that backing off from the book for a little will be the best thing, not just for me, but for the book. So the question is, am I really backing off?