Rembrandt, Ponting and Martine McCutcheon

Flew to Amsterdam for the launch of the Dutch edition of False Impression. It felt strange launching the novel in Holland in the same week as launching the hardback of Cat O'Nine Tales in London. Spent most of the day in interviews and signing sessions, but the highlight of the day was a visit to the Rijksmuseum, to see Rembrandt, along with many other Dutch masters. The museum is being renovated which seems to be taking as long as it is to build Wembley Stadium. Returned to the following day, to find that Australia were beating us up (cricket).

In the evening, I went to the Savoy to conduct an auction for the Simone Cowland Trust, which was hosted by Martine McCutcheon, whose heart and soul was clearly with the charity. Thanks to the generosity of many of the Trust's friends and supporters, the auction raised £108,000. The top prize was a long weekend in the Caribbean on a fully crewed 95ft yacht, for 8 people, which went under the hammer for £30,000.

Spam, spam, spam

Two theatre trips last week. On Tuesday, I went to the opening night of the Spamalot, which was packed with adoring fans who loved every moment. I must be one of the few people who doesn't get it. Perhaps I'm just not a natural Python fan.

A couple of days later my theatre club - a group of friends and I get together once a month to see a play we all agree on (which sometimes proves almost impossible) - went to A Moon for the Misbegotten, Eugene O'Neill's masterpiece at the Old Vic; three and a half hours of harrowing stuff, with a cast that kept me on the edge of my seat. Fine performances by Kevin Spacey and Colm Meaney, but I thought Eve Best (who I last saw in Hedda Gabler at the Almeida) is looking more and more like the new Judi Dench. She joins that rare group of people who, when you see her name on the poster, you know you have to book a ticket.

Affordable Art

Went to the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea Park last week, where every item is under £3,000. There's a new young sculptress called Katy Poett, who is very talented, and her animals - baboons, ostriches, camels and others, are exceptional, and sensibly priced. Look her up.

Book signing

Have just heard that Cat O'Nine Tales is into a reprint after only 3 days in the shops. Very exciting news. I can't wait for the second publication day when the gift edition with colour illustrations is published.

I'll be signing copies of the gift edition at the Chris Beetles Gallery at 8 & 10 Ryder Street, St James's, London SW1, from 5.30pm on Thursday 26th October.

At the same time, you will be able to see a major retrospective of Ronald Searle's artwork, of some 160 original pictures, that include those from his Molesworth/ St Trinian's days, right through to the present day - some of his cats are amazing.

Publication Day

Cat O'Nine Tales was published on Friday.

I began the day with an interview on This Morning, with Phillip Scholfield and Ruth Langsford. They were fascinated by the wonderful pictures by Ronald Searle, and asked some very incisive questions about how I'd got nine of the twelve stories from the time I was in prison.

Publication days are always a bit of an anticlimax. You've spent the best part of a year slaving away, going through the many stages that are necessary before it reaches the shops, and suddenly it's all over and it's taken out of your hands. During that period I have two favourite moments - when I finally hand the manuscript over to the publishers, and when they show me the first copy in hardback. By the time publication day comes, the brain is buzzing with the next project. Nevertheless, Ronald Searle has made this a very special occasion.

Britten Sinfonia at the South Bank

Last night Mary and I went to Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank to watch the Britten Sinfonia perform a Beethoven evening. The star of the show was that remarkable pianist, Imogen Cooper. She gave a virtuoso performance which quite rightly received four curtain calls. As Mary sits on the board, we gave a small post-concert party here at the apartment for those who keep the Britten Sinfonia going.

I discovered that musicians are like actors, they'll eat and drink anything you put in front of them.

Ronald Searle

Fantastic coverage in the Sunday Times Magazine of Ronald Searle's wonderful illustrations for my new book of short stories. This has prompted lots of emails saying they've sorted out their Christmas present problems.

Cat O'Nine Tales is published in hard back on Friday this week, and the gift edition with the colour illustrations, is out on the 27th October.

Shakespeare's first big hit

On Friday, Mary and I - theatre junkies that we are - went to Stratford-upon-Avon to see Henry VI parts I, II and III all in one day.

Each performance was just over 3 hours, the first one starting at 10.30am, and the last one ending at 10.30pm, with breaks of about an hour and a half between each show. It was an amazing experience - for the actors as well as the audience.

At dinner last night I was asked, why do you think they do it? To which I replied, the Royal Shakespeare Company is the only theatrical company who would even consider tackling it, and it's to their eternal credit that they take on a challenge that no-one else on earth would ever think about. The RSC are only doing all three plays on the same day three times, but if you're as mad as Mary and myself, there is one more opportunity for you to experience this for yourselves. Book now, and go to bed early the night before.

Good luck Freddie

Arrived at the Grosvenor House Hotel last Wednesday evening to find it so packed that there were tables on the balcony. 1,100 people turned out for Andrew Flintoff's final benefit dinner in London, to wish him good luck for the forthcoming tour of Australia. This is the third auction I've done for Freddie, and this one raised £220,000, from which his nominated charities - Kirsty's Appeal, The Lord's Taverners, Leukaemia Research and CHASE - the Ben Hollioake Fund, all benefitted.

Gaby Logan hosted the evening, which also featured Lawrence Dallaglio, Les Ferdinand, Will Greenwood, Mark Butcher and many other sporting personalities, who all came to support the England captain.

Freddie looks to me as if he's lost about a stone in weight, and he assured all those present that he's been in the gym and the nets on a regular basis, and can't wait to have a go at the Australians. We all wish him and the team well.