What better place to launch my new book than the Van Institute, with friends and family, food and drink and a bit of a get-together with those whose stories inspired the book.

Here I am, covered in an old white shirt to keep me clean while we set up. Very suitable venue:

Publisher and books all present and correct:

Frances has given everyone a drink and now they are sitting comfortably — mainly because I am on mute, then it all becomes very interactional…

Can you hear me?

No!

Can you hear me now?

No!

I thought they were all having me on, Can you hear me now? Yes,you can.

No! We can’t.

Then a lady jumped onto the stage, grabbed the mike and un-muted me. After that it all went very smoothly.

As a warm-up, the previous week, I gave a talk at Hay Castle — splendid venue!

I performed in the new bit — the Tudor mansion, the part with the roof!.

It is a magnificent community arts centre, and they made me very welcome and laughed a lot at my extracts which was gratifying.

Meanwhile Bill was unsupervised in the several wonderful second hand book shops for which Hay-on-Wye is famous. We returned home with the boot full of books.

Don’t forget the books!

Available direct from the publishers www.logastonpress.co.uk or from your local bookshop.