Submission

The feeling of raw gin if you haven't had anything but water for hours.  Your mouth is extraordinarily accepting of the sensation.  The initial sting subsides to a tingle, with warmth seeping into your head.  In the meantime the scent of juniper is spreading to your nose.

I hold it there.

I've just submitted my paper.  Writing started slow, but built up to a 10 hour climax today.  I wasn't alone, which helped.  It has been a long day.   It has been a long week.  Managed to use "schism"  and "the sound and fury".  Scientific writing really shouldn't be sterile.   Aggressive writing, however, now deserves a drink.  I had too little gin for G&T, so I took it neat.  The tingle has become muted by now, less needles and pins, more of a furry warmth. 

My gin substitute is Borovička: a small bottle of Slovak juniper brandy carried back from Poprad.  It less oily than gin.  And this time I have ice.

When I finally swallow, my tongue yearns for more.

A week of awayness, dogs and Devon and things, presents me with an empty fridge.  So I wander into the night where I pick oregano and three leaves from my garlic by touch.  This joins a finely chopped clove of garlic, olive oil, salt and a squish of lime to dress a barely cooked tagliatelle.