I’d one of those conversations today. Mrs Kerr, who’s about ninety, whispered that John McGinlay had died of the drink.

That’s great I said, because I thought he’d died of cancer.

Well, here’s another whispered conversation, Lily Poole is out and about, and you should be getting your copy pretty soon. I know I’ve been saying that for two years, but I write fiction and tend towards the fabulous and really you can’t believe anything I say. But I’ve signed a number of copies and sent them back to Unbound. They should be sending those to you. I know some of you have pledged for drinks and a party. Everyone is invited, whether you’ve pledged or not. It will be in Dalmuir and not London. That suits some people and not others. But I can pull rank here and say, who was it that wrote the fffnnn book? I hope you enjoy the book and I hope that you too die of drink and not the cancer. Cheers.