Christmas present

My father gave me a book token three Christmases ago. I didn't spend it. First out of indecision, then because I couldn't. But time has passed, and sentimentality doesn't do anyone any good, least of all my dad, who would hate to have wasted twenty quid on an unspent book token. So I popped it into my bag a month or so ago, and waited for the fancy to take me.

Well, the fancy took me today, and I bought this. It's a book called 'London, You're Beautiful' by David Gentleman - an artist's diary, slightly blip-ish. If it seems onerous taking a photo a day, imagine making a daily drawing! I'd seen the artist's work - on penguin book covers, tube posters etc - but hadn't, until now, known his name.

Leafing through the book on the bus home, I wondered, is it fanciful of me to see similarity between some of these pictures, and the precise little drawings my father sometimes used to make? Possibly. My father, who was also a David (and a very gentle man), would probably like it too. The perfect Christmas gift.