My dearest friends,

I have just returned from an absolutely horrendous journey into London Town. It was necessary to go as I had meet an old colleague of mine from my days as a junior reporter on the Landleigh Times in Rotherwick, Jeremy Franks. Now retired and touring Hampshire as an after-dinner speaker, he invited me to join him for lunch at Ripley's on the Strand.
Well, such nightmares I have never encountered! I was shoved and poked, shouted at and pinched, and all in the time it took me to travel the short distance from Waterloo to my destination.

Lunch was, I must say, delightful - as it always is at Ripley's (do try the griddled grouse with rosemary coulis) and the company drole.

My experiences today do lead me on to the news that our latest edition of Unforeseen Terrors, London, will be out presently. Please do register your interest.

Cordially, but somewhat listlessly,

EHM.