Inaugural Flight

Turned up at the tiny Brive, Vallée de la Dordogne airport today for our Ryanair flight to Stanstead. The incoming flight turned out to be the inaugural flight of the service, and the airport fire brigade sprayed the plane with water jets from either side as it arrived, while a group of dignitaries and journalists gathered to greet the first arrivals.

We watched from the little terminal building before being ushered on to a plane that could only have been 25 percent full. Not complaining, though. Plenty of room to spread!

London was sticky warm when we arrived and checked into our apart-hotel where we will be till Monday. Meetings tomorrow with my agent and publisher, and maybe with the chief exec. of the new owner, Hodder & Stoughton. But more of that later. The real purpose of the trip is to research the new book.

Meantime, the last book, Entry Island, enters its 15th week in the UK hardback bestsellers chart.