I’ve been arranging my notebooks, sharpening my pencils and ensuring the erasers are stashed safely in the drawers. No editing this month! Most importantly, I’ve ensured there’s an adequate supply of coffee in the cupboard. Is it even possible to spin a yarn without a steady stream of the hot, black, heady elixir to stimulate the little grey cells? I’m beginning to regret giving up the cigarettes last November. They were a huge help, too.

I confess that my true Muse is coffee, and none can ever take his place. This morning’s post is brought to you thanks to Najjar, the finest Turkish coffee in the kingdom!

I was inspired to write this little post by the early (©1652) advert for coffee. It is purported to be the very first advertisement for that delicious dark potion.

“THE Grain or Berry called Coffee, groweth upon little Trees, only in the Deserts of Arabia.

It is brought from thence, and drunk generally throughout all the Grand Seigniors Dominions.

It is a simple innocent thing, composed into a drink, by being dryed in an Oven, and ground to Powder, and boiled up with Spring water, and about half a pint of it to be drunk, fasting an hour before and not Eating an hour after, and to be taken as hot as possibly can be endured; the which will never fetch the skin off the mouth, or raise any Blisters, by reason of that Heat.

The Turks drink at meals and other times, is usually Water, and their Dyet consists much of Fruit, the Crudities whereof are very much corrected by this Drink.

The quality of this Drink is cold and Dry; and though it be a Dryer, yet it neither heats, nor inflames more than hot Posset.

It forcloseth the Orifice of the Stomack, and fortifies the heat with- [missing text] its very good to help digestion, and therefore of great use to be [missing text] bout 3 or 4 a Clock afternoon, as well as in the morning.

[missing text] quickens the Spirits, and makes the Heart Lightsome.

[missing text]is good against sore Eys, and the better if you hold your Head o’er it, and take in the Steem that way.

It supresseth Fumes exceedingly, and therefore good against the Head-ach, and will very much stop any Defluxion of Rheumas, that distil from the Head upon the Stomach, and so prevent and help Consumptions and the Cough of the Lungs.

It is excellent to prevent and cure the Dropsy, Gout, and Scurvy.
It is known by experience to be better than any other Drying Drink for People in years, or Children that have any running humors upon them, as the Kings Evil. &c.

It is very good to prevent Mis-carryings in Child-bearing Women.

It is a most excellent Remedy against the Spleen, Hypocondriack Winds, or the like.

It will prevent Drowsiness, and make one fit for Busines, if one have occasion to Watch, and therefore you are not to drink of it after Supper, unless you intend to be watchful, for it will hinder sleep for 3 or 4 hours.

It is observed that in Turkey, where this is generally drunk, that they are not troubled with the Stone, Gout, Dropsie, or Scurvy, and that their Skins are exceeding cleer and white.

It is neither Laxative nor Restringent.

Made and Sold in St. Michaels Alley in Cornhill, by Pasqua Rosee, at the Signe of his own Head.”

Ain’t that grand?

During November, I’ll post periodic excerpts from my work in progress, the sequel to New Yesterdays. This tale has been on my mind for a good long while now, and believe it or not, I’ve gotten a great many emails asking, “What happened next?”, and demanding a sequel. So, get ready for it! Any feedback on excerpts will be appreciated and gratefully acknowledged. So, are you ready? Let’s go! Erm… tomorrow, that is…

Are you a NaNoWriMo participant? How do you prepare for it? What gets you through the month?

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