A journalist once famously remarked that it is only possible to fall in love with one war, but do cold wars count, and how does it play out if many are too young, or too much time has passed, to really remember? What began with the intention of four good friends to meet for a quiet short gathering at one's remote retreat quickly became anything but, with a 'we're not leaving until' mentality, if by default. Four grew to nine as the far-fetched concept of tenderfoots forming a band transitioned toward a geopolitical food fight, in which neither hill-climbing trekkies nor Harringay Ladder hipsters were spared, and the only form of victory was being on the right side of history. The croaky-voiced Patsy from behind the convenience store counter joined the acerbic filmmaker Martyn to prop up the mosh pit, as the days felt more like a size 11 than a size 9 affair. | Birch by Richard Segal, Paperback | Indigo Chapters