Saturday 25 November, 05.30am - just touched down at Heathrow having completed a two-week book tour in Australia. So here's how it all worked out.
Friday 10 November. I passed the time on the 12 hour Qantas flight to Singapore by following my usual writing routine (2 hours on, 2 hours off) on a new project I'm working on, and watched two awful films which I don't believe even made general release. Had a couple of hours in Singpaore airport - the shopping is superb, the food appalling - then slept on the second leg through to Sydney, though I still felt jet-lagged when I arrived at 5.00pm.
Sunday 12 November. I spent the day at Sydney Cricket Ground as the guest of Jamie Barkley, the CEO. I sat in the Member's Box and watched England play NSW. Lee and McGrath didn't appear to bother Flintoff or Pietersen - surely this augures well for next week's first Test. The Barmy Army were in full chorus, and appear to be much loved by the Australians.
Had dinner in the evening with Alan Jones, the distinguished journalist and commentator. Alan is best remembered by the English for the fact that he was coach of the Australian rugby football team in the 1970s, and they were the first Australian side to beat England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Monday 13 November. Up at 6am to appear on the Today Show, Australia's longest-running breakfast news programme. The presenters, Jessica Rowe and Karl Stefanovic seem more interested in talking about the Ashes than Cat o'Nine Tales, although unlike the British, they do hold the book up every few seconds. I told them it would be a case of the Barmy Army versus Dad's Army. From there I went on to Radio 2gb to do the Alan Jones show - he's one of the toughest interviewers in Australia because he does his research so thoroughly. But again, because of the Ashes he kept me on for 30 minutes. They've clearly found someone from England they can beat up.
My next stop was a press interview with Murray Waldren for The Australian, before going on to the Shangri-La hotel to speak to some 500 people at a literary lunch hosted by Dymocks (a sort of Australian WHSmith) and The Sydney Morning Herald. I spoke for thirty minutes and answered questions for another twenty. Far fewer questions on prison this time, and far more wanting to know when Blair is going, whether Brown will take his place and what I think of Cameron. I then signed books for an hour, before going on to Radio 2CC broadcasting to Canberra, and then to a press interview with The West Australian.
Back to the hotel, and just time to shower and change, before heading out to do a charity auction at The Westin - a magnificent conversion from Sydney's old post office into a modern hotel. Freddie Flintoff had invited me to conduct an auction on behalf of The Shane Warne Foundation, Kirsty's Appeal, the Lord's Taverners, Leukaemia Research and The Chase Ben Hollioake Fund. Ashes tickets with a face value of $50 were selling for about $1000, and the final figure raised was $140,000.
When I do an auction, I ask for only two things - a parking space and to be allowed to sit next to someone interesting. My publishers supplied a car to take me to the function, and I was put on the table with the England team, seated between Paul Collingwood and Monty Panesar. Monty is very shy, and genuinely fun to be with. Paul told me that two people would be fighting for the last three places in the team, and the selectors would have to choose between himself, Bell and Cook. I suggested that after Trescothick's recent run, surely it was three names out of four. But he didn't agree, and thought that Marcus's place as the opening batsman was secure (Marcus flew back to London the next day with stress related problems).
Like a schoolboy, I shook hands with Neil Harvey, Bobby Simpson and Richie Benaud - life doesn't get any better than that.
Friday 10 November. I passed the time on the 12 hour Qantas flight to Singapore by following my usual writing routine (2 hours on, 2 hours off) on a new project I'm working on, and watched two awful films which I don't believe even made general release. Had a couple of hours in Singpaore airport - the shopping is superb, the food appalling - then slept on the second leg through to Sydney, though I still felt jet-lagged when I arrived at 5.00pm.
Sunday 12 November. I spent the day at Sydney Cricket Ground as the guest of Jamie Barkley, the CEO. I sat in the Member's Box and watched England play NSW. Lee and McGrath didn't appear to bother Flintoff or Pietersen - surely this augures well for next week's first Test. The Barmy Army were in full chorus, and appear to be much loved by the Australians.
Had dinner in the evening with Alan Jones, the distinguished journalist and commentator. Alan is best remembered by the English for the fact that he was coach of the Australian rugby football team in the 1970s, and they were the first Australian side to beat England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Monday 13 November. Up at 6am to appear on the Today Show, Australia's longest-running breakfast news programme. The presenters, Jessica Rowe and Karl Stefanovic seem more interested in talking about the Ashes than Cat o'Nine Tales, although unlike the British, they do hold the book up every few seconds. I told them it would be a case of the Barmy Army versus Dad's Army. From there I went on to Radio 2gb to do the Alan Jones show - he's one of the toughest interviewers in Australia because he does his research so thoroughly. But again, because of the Ashes he kept me on for 30 minutes. They've clearly found someone from England they can beat up.
My next stop was a press interview with Murray Waldren for The Australian, before going on to the Shangri-La hotel to speak to some 500 people at a literary lunch hosted by Dymocks (a sort of Australian WHSmith) and The Sydney Morning Herald. I spoke for thirty minutes and answered questions for another twenty. Far fewer questions on prison this time, and far more wanting to know when Blair is going, whether Brown will take his place and what I think of Cameron. I then signed books for an hour, before going on to Radio 2CC broadcasting to Canberra, and then to a press interview with The West Australian.
Back to the hotel, and just time to shower and change, before heading out to do a charity auction at The Westin - a magnificent conversion from Sydney's old post office into a modern hotel. Freddie Flintoff had invited me to conduct an auction on behalf of The Shane Warne Foundation, Kirsty's Appeal, the Lord's Taverners, Leukaemia Research and The Chase Ben Hollioake Fund. Ashes tickets with a face value of $50 were selling for about $1000, and the final figure raised was $140,000.
When I do an auction, I ask for only two things - a parking space and to be allowed to sit next to someone interesting. My publishers supplied a car to take me to the function, and I was put on the table with the England team, seated between Paul Collingwood and Monty Panesar. Monty is very shy, and genuinely fun to be with. Paul told me that two people would be fighting for the last three places in the team, and the selectors would have to choose between himself, Bell and Cook. I suggested that after Trescothick's recent run, surely it was three names out of four. But he didn't agree, and thought that Marcus's place as the opening batsman was secure (Marcus flew back to London the next day with stress related problems).
Like a schoolboy, I shook hands with Neil Harvey, Bobby Simpson and Richie Benaud - life doesn't get any better than that.
4 Comments:
Welcome back to the UK Jeffrey! Glad to hear your trip went well. I haven't seen anything on your blog or in any newsletter about the new ITV series "Fortune" in which I understand you are to be a panelist and indeed, involved in other ways. It sounds very exciting - but why are you not sharing this good news with your faithful readers??? I would be very interested to know when we will be seeing it on our screens!
Many thanks. I will be taking part in the new ITV show, 'Fortune', and there will be some more information on my website very soon.
Unfortunately, I don't read all your books, being in business doesn't leave me much time, although I went to see your play a while ago, with Frank Finley & Wendy Craig (my father use to decorate her house in the 60's) & thought it great.
I was just about to vote for you as mayor - I still think you would be the best man for the job.
However, I want to tell you of a business project that you may be interested in.
We have been in the Commercial Interiors business for more years than I wish to remember. With the introduction of the web, we saw an
opportunity to develop)and we have) a "yellow page like" site that is totally dedicated to the construction industry. It is up and running and we have been successful so far, without any real advertising. We have read recently in Contract Journal, that there are 800,000 self employed sub contractors in the UK alone (the revenue says more like 2,000,000)and we are charging around £50 plus VAT to advertise on our site for a whole year, for contractors to advertise 4 trades in the work area of their choice. A bargain you may think. Think of this worldwoide as in yellow pages. We have also allowed an add-on to our site, for suppliers to also advertise. We work out of Southbank House, I believe you had an office there once. Please contact Roger Banks on 07860 780 120 if you are interested in our project. 800,000 x £50 = 40,000,000!
anonymous - many thanks for your message. I'm afraid that because of my writing commitments and the fact that I am currently overseas writing my new novel, I am not involving myself in new business initiatives at the present time. Nevertheless I wish you the best of luck.
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