It's very strange being at the other end of the world and reading articles like this in today's Guardian newspaper. It quotes the head of the UK retail group Woolworths as saying that publishers had 'whipped independent booksellers into a frenzy' about Woolies' proposed takeover of the wholesaler Bertram Books. This frenzy had then led the booksellers to complain to the Competition Commission in an attempt to block what might be considered a potential monopoly in book distribution to the independent trade.

This report is very strange for three reasons. Firstly, publishers normally stand accused of never supporting independent booksellers (see any number of comments on this blog from various independents). Secondly, unlike in last year's Wottakars case, I'm pretty sure that the Publishers Association has taken a rather passive stance. And thirdly, and most strange,  I think I can safely say that publishers have never been able deliberately to whip independent booksellers into a frenzy about anything. Sometimes by mistake of course...

Now back to reality. I have a day of meetings ahead of me in various parts of Buenos Aires. Our companies here are Macmillan Argentina (who have the great but only occasionally true slogan 'With Macmillan you have all the answers') which serves the English Language Teaching market and Puerto de Palos which publishes books in Spanish for children, schools and the genral market.

During the dreadful Argentine economic crisis of 2002 several international publishers abandoned their companies. I am glad for all sorts of reasons that Macmillan did not. Of course we had to adapt the business to the economic horrors of the time but we hung in, thanks to the committed local team, and we are now on a significant expansion path. Nothing is straightforward in Latin America (or anywhere?) but there is a strong recognition of the importance of education and we are determined to be at its centre.

Should you ever be in Buenos Aires do try Los Pinos restaurant for basic Argentine cooking in an authentic setting (sounds like a travel brochure but I couldn't think of alternative words). The photo doesn't quite do justice to the melancholic and nostalgic atmosphere. The other thing is that the meal costs less than £10 a head including top quality wine.