Booked Out

At this time of year my mind always drifts back to school. New satchel, polished shoes, the faint smell of pencil shavings. And it’s been rather like that this past month — a busy time, conferences everywhere, me scurrying round with my homework in hand. Portugal was the big one. My biggest every year. And, in the end, it was rather marvellous. Everyone acquitted themselves, as my old headmaster used to say, and there were some brilliant touches. Chief among them, an interview with the racing driver Billy Munger. Inspiring, honest, authentic — and truly moving. The sort of lad who makes you feel you could climb Everest before breakfast, or at least manage the hill up to Marks & Spencer without wheezing. Back home I landed on the rarest of rare things — an on-time British Airways flight. Almost a miracle. I was still savouring that when the phone went at baggage claim. Lexus. Always Lexus. The part they’d promised to fit on Tuesday has been “back-ordered”. Which, near as I can tell, is a technical term for “we haven’t the faintest idea”. Back-ordered. Back where? Japan apparently. Likely to stay there till November. I sometimes think Lexus, the premium brand, have a grand plan to make us grateful for any attention at all. Customer service as an endurance sport. Saturday brought sunshine, as if by order, because my partner staged one of his VengaWorld car meets. This one at Monster HQ in Uxbridge. Now, I don’t willingly drive to Uxbridge — it’s always struck me as more of a punchline than a destination. A stop on the end of the tube or a comedy round on I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. But round the M25 I went, sixty-two miles of it. And worth every yard. A wonderful crowd — beautiful cars, fantastic stories, proper energy. And, for once, not “oh, it’s Sophie’s dad” but “oh, it’s Brayden’s partner”. Which was rather nice. So now, a quieter few weeks. More writing, perhaps some planning for the year ahead. A couple of near misses in the West End, a film role that fizzled. But the good thing is, the book is out. Came out in September, and reviewers have been kind — dark, funny, full of unlikeable characters. Just what I wanted. Because when everyone’s unlikeable, you end up liking the worst. That’s why villains are always the best to play. There’s something to get your teeth into. And so we move into autumn, hoping the shorter days bring longer jobs, and the darker nights deliver entertaining mini-series and the odd trip to the theatre. And, best of all, a first December and Christmas at home in years. Festive, ready and waiting.

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