It must be August. Yesterday's piece about author signing sessions in bookshops elicited this comment:

'It's early in the day but booksignings are best compared to sex ; sometimes more enjoyable than others, but seldom a total failure!'

Hmmm.

In the excitement of August I failed to record the millionth visit to this blog. It appears to have happened on Saturday 4 August with a VAT on print entry and some excellent comments. I can't tell exactly who the visitor was - there were 2804 visits that day, slightly below par but not bad for a weekend. So, whoever paid the millionth visit, welcome and I hope you return.

More good news on the public library front following on last week's. CILIP, which is a horrible acronym for the equally horrible-sounding but actually brilliant Chartered Institute of Librarians and Information Professionals, has come out all guns blazing in an attack on local and national politicians for the decline in support for the library services and an apparent disregard for the views of the poeple who know best, the librarians. Hooray, sense may be beginning to prevail. Here's a quote from CILIP's letter to the government minister responsible:

"A number of Public Library Authorities are planning drastic reductions in the number of professional staff they employ, and some are even planning to hand over control of library services to local community groups without any professional expertise at all," explained Bob McKee, CILIP Chief Executive. "We hear talk about improved customer service and greater community management, but this is just spin-doctoring to cover up the reality of budget cuts and job losses. The truth is that without adequate professional expertise the quality of service will be reduced and the future of the service put at risk."

Finally, hooray for the cricketers of India who won the test match series against England convincingly and properly. England's pusillanimity on the Sunday of the first test match was the trigger but then the Indian team made the most of everything that followed. The old colonial power has been put in its place by the new stars - and quite right too.