Wonder Wall

Spent a wonderfully relaxing weekend with my daughter and her husband in Swindon after nearly two weeks on the road.

But it was back to it today, with a train journey to Oxford, stock signing in the city centre, followed by a marvelous event at Blackwells, where a very warm group of readers turned out on a blustery January night to listen to me in conversation with the charming and talented writer, Lucy Atkins.

The evening was rounded off with an exceptional meal at Zheng Chinese restaurant. And tomorrow it's off to London for the final day of the Coffin Road launch tour - stock signings, an interview for Audible, lunch with my agent and an evening event at Waterstones, Piccadilly, chaired by the incomparable Peter Guttridge.

The blip is of one wall in my artist daughter's study. I am flattered that the centrepiece of the artwork on display is a glass painting of a Spanish bullfight painted by yours truly when he was still at school - an awful long time ago!