A few weeks ago I wrote about one of the earliest author tours (Kipling in Melbourne in 1891). This morning I was sent evidence of one of the most recent - Julia Donaldson in the Children's Bookshop in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Here she is in the overflowing shop conducting the children in the Gruffalo Song and you can hear it here courtesy of Radio New Zealand. Some authors go to a long way to reach their readers and we go a long way to support them. If you weren't in Christchurch at the time you can find 112 titles by Julia on Macmillan Children's Books website.

Whenever I think of New Zealand, rugby comes to mind. I was slightly shocked to see in the email about Julia that they don't rate England's chances in the forthcoming World Cup (incidentally this is a link to the unofficial site, the official site isn't working). They are probably right but the discovery of four world-class newcomers on Saturday when England beat France at least gives us hope. But the more miraculous rugby development is the emergence of Italy as a serious competitor. Italy today, Netherlands tomorrow, Germany soon after and then the big one, Russia. I'd love to attend the first Russia-New Zealand test match.

The last architectural monument on my route to work is not very beautiful, decidedly impractical but strange enough to catch the eye - a lighthouse on Pentonville Road. London's a strange old city.

One of the joys of living in England is BBC Radio 4 where you can tune in at almost any time and hear something of interest, irritation, novelty or fun. I heard for the first time yesterday Robert Conquest's brilliant compression of Shakespeare's Seven Ages of Man. His goes:

First you get puking and mewling
Then very p—ed off with your schooling
Then f—s and then fights
Then judging chaps’ rights
Then sitting in slippers–then drooling.