The little tree

Up, and to a bookseller in Bath, where my friend Esperanza is launching her first children's book "The Little Tree That Didn't Know".

Espe's husband Chris penned the illustrations, making it a family production.

I was most impressed by the way Espe has project managed her book through self publication, down to obtaining the ISBN and lodging copies with the British Library as required in law, et cetera.

The event itself went well, with Espe reading from her book, with a friend's daughter, Hebe, playing The Tree and Chris playing The Worm; a performance that was received enthusiastically by the audience.

I must say she chose a good day for a children's book launch; the city centre was heaving with Christmas shoppers. And at last we've had a little snow to get us in the mood for the Bath Christmas Market. Outside of München or Wien it's a wonderful venue for a Christkindlmarkt and a little of the white stuff - snow, not Weißwurst - makes the atmosphere complete.

But I do hope they have Bratwurst as well as Glühwein again this year.