I had been trying to contact my old friend Beryl, who was planning to come up to my book launch from England. She appears in the book and we were going to do a sort of duologue as one of the readings.
   But alas, she didn't answer for some weeks and then just yesterday her brother picked up instead. I expect some of you have been there before: I knew immediately what had happened. Beryl had died a week or so ago, superficially from a stroke, but she had a lot of things wrong with her.
   I used to ring her about monthly, just for a chat, and she was always cheerful and never complained. She and her husband Ralph turned my life upside down...in a good way...very many years ago.
   I shall miss her.

I went the other day to a book launch in Waterstones, Sauchiehall Street. The book in question was Crow Moon, written by Suzy Apsley, and she was being 'interviewed' by Michael Malone, another local (to Ayr) writer who has published many books, and who I've known for a long time.
   It was all very jolly. I couldn't help thinking there were a lot of spoilers in the conversation, but nobody seemed to mind. I shall try to avoid doing that when my own turn comes to give an interview and a speech.
   I have barely started Crow Moon, but no doubt I shall give it a review (see the book review tab) in due course.