Monday, November 28, 2011 at 1:47PM 
sorry everyone - I've broken my leg and Francis has had his second spine operation. Loads of lovely friends and family helping (eg Archie decorating the plaster) but Golden Duck's high professional standards might slip a bit over next few weeks. many apols if so.
francis wheen, jjulia jones in news Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 2:42PM An FT article in defence of Lynn Barber and on caustic reviewing generally. Well worth a read. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/380d5122-bdb1-11e0-babc-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1UFue48VR
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 7:12AM In case you wonder how we all keep busy out here in the sticks, here's The Lady's glimpse of activity in Essex ...
Essex, Golden Duck, Oaken Heart, The Lady, francis wheen, julia jones in news Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 2:29PM ;)
Francis has had an operation for a slipped disc disc and I've no idea who allowed cartoonist Nick Newman into the recovery room to capture this unerringly accurate sketch.
The good news is that the 'agreeable red' appears to be working its wonted magic (who needs blood in their veins after all?) and Francis will be returning to the fray in good time for the Essex Book Festival and a trip to Glasgow next month. (Perhaps I'll need to replace the drip with some fine single malt a few days beforehand to help him acclimatise. You can keep your morphine and extra strength pain killers, he says.)
April 4th 2011. Depressingly, Francis isn't better. A disc in the lower back is now causing great discomfort. Standing and travelling no fun at all and any illicit morphine offers would be gratefully received.
essex book festival, francis wheen, nick newman in events, news Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 9:13PM Here's a report from a particpant in Francis's Melbourne masterclass - http://millersunity.wordpress.com/2010/09/07/a-generous-mind-reporter-of-the-spirit/ - and when I think how anxious the dear chap was beforehand. Well, 'twas ever thus. He's doing something similar next month in Paris for TWO days!
Meanwhile I had a good time at the Margery Allingham Society convention indulging my Herbert Allingham obesession with a kindly audience, then listening to crime writer Mike Ripley who talked about 'Margery Allingham and Me' (to be published in the next edition of the Bottle Street Gazette). Mike also took the opportunity to publicise his list of Top-Notch Thrillers. These sound well-worth following up. Perhaps Christmas is coming?