I've forgotten the name of this magnificent old lady. Nellie, surely! And this was taken at Kipling Camp in India a few years ago. It doesn't really have any relevance to what I'm going to tell you all, but I thought you might like it.

I'm sorry to see that the Unbound redesign has demolished the shed. I think of you all as my shedders, and will continue to do so until they arrest me.  So, I say defiantly, welcome to you all, my lovely shedders.

As you will see, I am approaching 60% of my total. I had hoped to get here sooner, but I have an event organised for the end of the month and I gave two talks last weekend, which might incite one or two to pledge. The first talk was in the Portumna Workhouse, a first-class place, full of history of the saddest kind, but now full of energy and community spirit.

Steve, the dynamic director, organised A Taste of Portumna for the Friday and those who attended were overwhelmed by the range and quality of food being produced and served in this small area. Great cheeses, apple juices and cider vinegars, rapeseed oil, fresh spice mixes, chocolates, excellent baking and lots more in the line of produce. And then the local restaurants were there handing out brilliant samples, from prawns to generous mugs of Irish coffee. And I gave a talk to those who could drag themselves away from all the goodies.   The following day saw a conference, Eaten Bread. The Irish proverb is Eaten bread is soon forgotten, which is a wry reflection on how long gratitude lasts. I gave the opening talk to an assembly of people, including members of the South East Galway Historical and Archaeological Society. There's a mouthful! Christy Cunniffe and Steve Dolan are both mad about history and the speakers included Wild Food Mary. I'll leave you to guess about her!!!

So I'll be giving a reading and answering questions about the history of food and drink in Ireland on Friday 31st March in Charlie Byrne's in Galway city at 6pm. And then on April 8th I'll be giving a talk at Galway City Museum.  More of that anon.

Thank you all for pledging. And if you know anyone who you think might also like to pledge, please do ask them. I'm impatient for the book to go into production! And I have the illustrious Julian Roberts arriving on 31st to soak up the atmosphere and get inspiration for the line drawings he'll be doing for the book. Illustrious illustrations, in fact.

I'll get back to you again soon!