J and I had an enjoyable trip out today. After parking at the O2, and dodging the crowds (some in costume) attending the League of Legends World Championships we tubed it to South Kensington and walked down to the King's Road to Chelsea Town Hall for what turned out to be a pretty decent book fair. Lots of familiar names there, and certainly lots of good books. We kept spotting Michael Bond books (maybe brought out in anticipation of the new film) and there seemed to be lots of le Carre about. I was tempted to buy a couple from Neil Pearson. He had a signed copy of A Trick of the Light (Sebastian Faulks's first book), but it wasn't in the best condition. Mind you, I've just had a quick look on Abe and both of the signed ones on there are more! He also had an inscribed Licence Renewed, but I thought I should stick with Jon for stuff like that (plus I already have an unsigned one). Anyway, I was very happy with my purchase, a signed fine (bordering on mint if you ask me now that it's mine!) copy of First Love, Last Rites (Ian McEwan's first book), so I went away feeling like it was a successful event all round.
Return trip on the tube, deposited my purchase securely in the car, spot of late lunch at the food market at the O2, and then over on the cable car for the Formula 1 exhibition at Excel which was a splendid second half to a grand day out.