Captain Hook and the books

Since Monday, hundreds of excited school children have been trouping up and down the street and generally making themselves agreeably noticeable - especially in the Hi-Viz jackets.

Last night, I asked my friend's daughter if she knew why all the schools were out and about right now, and she reminded me that it is the Bath Children's Literature Festival all week.

Loads of authors and illustrators have come to give talks and readings - I think that Philip Pullman is here amongst them. Virtual royalty.

The closest thing to that I had as a child was one teacher reading the first chapter of 'The Lost World' by Conan-Doyle, then saying that if we wanted to know what happens next we had better buy the book and read it ourselves. I think I was the only one who did.

As I was taking this picture, I noticed the disabled pirate getting out of his car in the foreground. I wonders if he speaks in the present tense?