the Pump Room was a Georgian conceit, I think; all the Dandy crowd and the Prince Regent hung out there.

How ... prosaic. I think I'll continue to amuse myself by imagining delicate lasses in Empire dresses and dandies in cravats and top hats wandering around pipes and turbines.

And Deb beats me to the Pump Room, as I was off meeting my daily page quota (just kissing and talking today--much easier to write than an action sequence if you're me). I've been there several times--I lived in Bristol my year in England, just 15 minutes by train from Bath. I love Bath, though I can't quite picture myself living there. Somehow it'd feel like I was either living on a film set or that I'd stepped back in time every time I left my door in a way that none of the other history-steeped places I've lived in or visited would.

You wind up in the Pump Room after you've toured the Roman Baths. I've never been able to bring myself to try the waters. I've also been in the Assembly Rooms, which look exactly like you'd expect a Georgian party hall to look. The first time I was there they were setting up for a wedding and reception, and the hostess apologized that one of the rooms was roped off. I squeaked something like, "You can get married HERE?" and next thing I knew she was trying to sell me on it--stuffing my hands full of brochures with their very reasonable rates, talking about the capacity of each room, etc.

At the time Dylan and I had been dating for less than a month. I was already pretty sure he was it, but I wasn't quite ready to shop for reception halls, so it was a bit discombobulating. I really think that lady would've penciled me in on the calendar then and there if I'd asked.

But still no turbines. Oh, well. (I have no idea why I have turbines on the brain.)

I've never been able to bring myself to try the waters.

I have. They're nasty in the extreme.

connie, there is actually a pump - it's how the bring the water up from the natural springs underneath. IIRC. But I don't remember actually seeing the thing.

Susan, you hung out in Bristol? Do you have any memories of Bruton, by any blessed chance?

Oh, BTW, Ailleann, I was in Cleveland two weeks ago for a booksigning with a wonderful crowd of Buffistae: Beverly, Deena, Cashmere, Nicole, SJ, Ginger, Teppy...

Sad that I missed it, Deb... Cleveland, only two hours away....

(but I haven't bought any of your books yet, so that might have been weird... bring the library's, see if they notice...)

Susan, you hung out in Bristol? Do you have any memories of Bruton, by any blessed chance?

No--sorry.

Deb, I have a friend who lives in Bristol. If you have specific questions you'd like me to ask her, I would be glad to. Just email me.

Woot! Thanks, Cindy. Of course, depending on what/if the offer Ruth makes on the proposal, I may never need it. But the projected fifth book is based on the song Bruton Town, and the entire Bath/Bristol neck of the woods is a bit northeast of my old holiday haunts, when I lived in London. We used to head for Cornwall.

Deb, she's only lived there for a couple of years, although her partner has lived there longer. She was in school in Cheshire (Chester) before that, and I think her folks now live in Kent.

When I saw Susan's response, it dawned on me you were probably asking for reasons other than chit chat. In anticipation, I've sent her an email, saying I had a writer friend asking questions, and asked her if you could either send questions through me, or contact her directly. When I hear from her, I will let you know.

I'm sending Ruth some brainwaves, as I type. If she has an anxiety attack, then I sent the wrong ones, and I hope you'll apologize for me. ;)