I'm going to try something a bit risky, but also necessary.

I'm taking a break from blogging and even updating my website, for a week. During that week I'm not going to be using any electronic forms of communication at all.

I've not turned hippy. I've just decided, that after a particularly frantic period, I'm going to have a family week. Having just signed the contract for my third book, and with fairly solid ideas for books four and five, and a wild idea for book six, I could do with the space. When something as much fun as wine is a way of earning a living, it takes some discipline to stop it invading every spot of mental space, and every scrap of time.

I hope regular readers will understand, and that you'll all be back next week for freshly invigorated comment, analysis and vague wonderings.

Wine tonight is Domaine Du Cros' 2002 Marcillac, which is my comfort wine. Delicious, meaty, fresh, sappy and bloody.