"The Doll Makers" was launched succesfully last night - the bottle of champagne broke first time - and off it sailed to the bookshops. Pen gave us an informative and very funny talk and then took questions from her audience. As she said, she couldn't have picked a worse day if she had tried - snow sweeping down from the North, a freezing London, and a 24 hour tube strike!
However, she got a good audience and the room was full. ALCS did her proud - and what a lovely venue it is for a launch. We met some interesting people, including Sue, a Theatre critic, and a young Polish-American student over here on a semester of studying Brit culture. He is especially enjoying the Brit Comedy module. And we re-met Janet who made the amazing Lilac Tree Farm wedding cake. When not making wedding cakes for the children of her friends she has some extraordinary connection with a UN type of organisation. I would love to have a talk with her about it, but haven't had much of a chance yet.
She has had the sort of life that would make for a fascinating autobiography.
Sue and I were swapping our current reading and I was able to recommend Peter Godwin's 'When a Crocodile Eats the Sun', and she has recommended something called 'Brixton Beach' by Roma Tearne.
It is a brilliant title (and yes, old geography teacher, I do know that Brixton does not have a beach).
Julie wasn't there this year, but she did text Pen from India.
We got back to our seaside home about 9.30. I am now hoping to get out on the work with Audrey this morning - although it looks awfully cold out there. And must ring Louise, the young pioneer sister, about our working together this week too.
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