We all know that one of the drawbacks with being away for six weeks is the mountain of paperwork you return to. Just opening all those envelopes takes time. I’m not going to bore you with the tedious stuff, we all have them, the thing I’ve trying to grapple with is the most cost effective way of sending 200 books to Barbados for distribution.

On the way to Writers Without Borders this morning, I was unprepared for the heaving masses visiting the German market in Birmingham Victoria Sq. It’s more than a German market, it is a festival of European food. Heart shaped candies, Stollen, doughnuts, ostrich burgers, Angus beef with whiskey relish, roasted hog. A cacophony of smells and flavours, and the music of the merry-go-round drawing you in, like the Pied Piper, to stop and savour the delights.

Birmingham at its best – only drawback – IT’S COLD!!!