My first book signing

This weekend I participated in my first ever book signing.

Let's say it was... a bit of a surprise! I thought I was just hanging out over Hallowe'en with a bunch of good friends, at the home of the fabulous fifitrix. So I certainly didn't expect to be ushered into the kitchen to find myself faced with a quite terrifying table covered in pens and posters and photos (oh my!), and a queue of (thank god, familiar) individuals clutching copies of the books.

There was even a glass of water, and a silver pen for signing photos. Attentive to detail, my friends! kalypso_v, thank you for being such an excellent events organizer.

Gracious as ever, I yelped, "You utter, utter bastards!"

Plus I'm embarrassed to say that round about the second book, inspiration failed me and I started signing the same thing for everyone. I believe I may have signed somebody's body at some point. It's all a bit hazy.

And yes, I did turn puce.

Three things I like about the new series of 'Spooks'

1. It has scenes in which people are deep in conversation on Primrose Hill. All the best spy dramas have people deep in conversation on Primrose Hill.

2. Tim McInnerny's character is wonderfully, unctuously evil. Better than that, it's like we're seeing his character from A Very British Coup twenty years older and twenty years further up the greasy pole.

3. Jan Chappell was in it the other night (I think that's the episode that will be on BBC 1 tonight).