Thank you for this story, Nick, I enjoyed reading it, I liked all the little descriptive details like the tarnished teaspoon in the window. My ma was an antique dealer, so I was brought up down Portobello road and going on buying trips... this was very evocative!

I very much liked your style, and the section that Muse found sing-songy trotted along prettily for me. In fact, the very sing-songy-ness of it was evocative - I could picture him whistling to himself! Sorry, Muse.

I also find that I protest (often inwardly) at some of the criticisms/suggestions made about my stuff, as I just cannot see why I shouldn't be the way I am on paper. Then again, I also like poetry - maybe it is expected that style in erotica be simpler, less obviously 'literature', than non-erotica. Hmmm. Not sure - given that I'm being pushed to use more description, adjectives, metaphor, etc., that doesn't seem to be the case! Just different.

Are you English (I am)? I am beginning to notice a distinct difference with the British writers; and they do tend to use words for the pleasure and music of the words more, I think.

Goodness, this is a very disjointed post. Time to go to sleep I think.