There was a mini-debate on the meaning of independent publishing here a couple of weeks ago. I think it's a fairly meaningless (but sometimes helpfully self-serving) concept. Independence doesn't come from size or type of publication or ownership structures. It comes from the minds of people. On Friday I attended a birthday party at the Stationers' Hall.

It was to celebrate forty years since the formation of Kogan Page, 'Europe's largest independent publisher of business titles'. There is a story in The Times where they interviewed its Chairman, Philip Kogan. There's a letter from him in their latest catalogue but no pictures on Google Image Search.

I am a huge admirer of Philip and the company he founded. Not because of the books he's published. I'm sure they are good but it's just not my field. Not because he hasn't sold the company. I'm sure if someone had offered enough...

I admire him and the company because they have never ceased to innovate in order to stay in business and never ceased to enjoy the business we're in. Philip's daughter, Helen, is now in charge and it seems that the company is in great shape for now and the future. If that's what is meant by independent publishing, I'm all for it but I prefer to think of it as simply a matter of independent-minded publishing.

At Macmillan I think we're still pretty independent-minded too. Here is our most recent innovation - a blog for teachers of English. Everyone is welcome to contribute, so please do. Just in case you can't find them (or me for that matter) they've published a helpful photo of King's Cross from the air. Here it is.

And of course, congratulations to my local team, Chelsea Football Club, on winning the FA Cup thanks, as so often this season, to the magnificent Didier Drogba. The celebrations in Chelsea last might were long and noisy and I think we can expect more today.