What do you think Tywin Lannister was up to before Tyrion's kidnapping?

[devilish]

How many times in the book does he do this?

I have to check to be honest.

However he did had a lot of Lannisters around him (his wife, a member of the kingsguard, his cupbearer etc)

[juanml82]

Before Tyrion was kidnapped? Tywin was most likely calculating the interest on the latest loan for the crown to pay for this foolish tourney, and fucking some whore.

This. Tywin Lannister didn't read the books, had Quathie whispering odd riddles in his ears nor kept a palantir to see everything. He didn't know about the incest, we don't if he knew of Renly's plot to replace Cersei and he's not going to prepare to wage war against the Iron Throne because he wasn't chosen Hand.

[thelittledragonthatcould]

This. Tywin Lannister didn't read the books, had Quathie whispering odd riddles in his ears nor kept a palantir to see everything. He didn't know about the incest, we don't if he knew of Renly's plot to replace Cersei and he's not going to prepare to wage war against the Iron Throne because he wasn't chosen Hand.

Did he even want to be Hand again? The main reason he put up with a lot of the shit from Aerys was that he wanted his daughter to be Queen and Grandchildren heirs. He has that, he probably has just as much influence with Robert as he did when he was Hand to Aerys.

Being Hand to Aerys made a previous close friend resent him, Tywin might not have wanted that kind of relationship with his son-in-law. I really dont see that there is that much upside for Tywin, a man whose legacy was secured at that point, in being the Hand.

[Lion of the West]

I would assume that beyond ruling the West he was also thinking about what Eddard's appointment as Hand of the King might mean.