post death episode

After surgery, I head round to see Richard Gwyn with my BIG PLAN, viz, to have him teach me writing. He told me:
"I've had this before, actually. I had an Afghani princess round here once, asked me the same question, said I could name my price"
I pointed out gently that I had not said that, rather that the fee might be negotiable should he agree to take me on as his pupil. We parted amicably, my having left my portfolio of stories for him to tear apart, should he decide to help me. I feel strange about leaving them with him; pieces of writing are a bit like your children: you feel outraged if someone doesn't like them, like someone pointing out a wart on your baby's face. But I know it's the only way I'm going to improve. Now I must sit tight and await his decision.

This evening, we watch a new episode of the Simpsons. 22 series, over 400 episodes, has anything in TV history kept up such a consistently high standard for so long? How do they do it? Could be they started with a brilliantly realised idea, then for the next 20 years found some of the best writers in America to write it.

For me, however, each episode I watch is divided into 2 groups, one my son would have seen (he loved it too) and the ones he couldn't have, as they went out after he died. And when I watch one in the latter group, as was the case tonight, I always think, oh yes, he would have liked this one...