We did indeed, as advertised, have an alfresco wgwg last night. A balmy night ensued but we discovered that it is really hard to read in a garden after it gets dark. We also learnt why it's called an Indian Summer and, oh yes, if I might mention it once more, that Jarred's got a story on Radio 4 this Sunday at 19.45.

To celebrate the good weather we will be meeting in the garden of The Rising Sun pub tonight at 8pm. The pub is two minutes from the library centre at 25 Harlesden Road - go down Grange Road (on the right hand side of the library centre) and turn right at the end of the road, the pub is now in sight on the left of Harlesden Rd. See you there!

More new people came. A good evening, all in all. Mary's novel in progress is like biting into very a Fortnum's fruit cake, with a thin slice of stilton on top, washed down by a Laphroaig. More, more, more...

Aside from Mary and me, there were no regulars (what is the plural of 'Judas'? Judi? If so, that's most of you...

I think that we need to consider making a rule about writing for children. I think that narrative stories without pictures are fine, but perhaps we need to make it clear that writing for very young children (say, under 8) is really not welcome at the group.

What are the chances of two new people joining wgwg last night, both being called Ian? I don't know - what am I a maths genius? Anyway a very good night ensued with two excellent children's stories, a poem, a fantasy with an alarming amount of flaming resin (you had to be there) a very good mystery short story and the extremely promising start of a new book set in Korea. Then off down the pub. Perfect.

So, at 8pm we appeared to have only one person who had anything to read out. Given that a new member had turned up, this looked to be embarrassing.

By 8.03pm I gave up and started downloading my manuscript on my phone to read out an excerpt. Desperation.

By 8.10pm another person turned up with something to read. It looked promising.

Miraculously, by 8.20pm we had 9 people and 5 readings set to go...

I love it when a plan comes together (after the Hannibal Smith).

We are carrying on regardless tonight, so feel free to come and join us, we figure that after three days the rioters must be tired by now...