I was up in London on Wednesday for three appointments, two of which I will share (along with a bag full of links).

Mid-morning I met up with Sarah McIntyre (of Vern and Lettuce fame, for one thing) and also with Ellen Lindner (of Whores of Mensa and Little Rock Nine fame, for two things). So I had tea with two very distinguished London-based American comic creators, at a distinguished, if over-priced, café - Maison Bertaux. And then we marched off to the Wallace Collection in Manchester Square for a quick look round - a wondrous place, and one to which I must return when I've more than an hour to spare. Below is a very quick sketch I did in answer to Sarah's marvellous Teapod drawing of a few weeks ago.

In the evening, having now met up with Elyssa, I went to the French Institute in Kensington for one of Paul Gravett's terrific Comica events, in this case a talk and interview with two of France's most interesting auteurs: Ted Benoit, who has just seen his 1996 Blake & Mortimer adventure (in collaboration with Jean Van Hamme) published in English, and Emmanuel Guibert, who's work I know from the sublime The Professor's Daughter, and he has just had his book, Alan's War, published in English too. It was an excellent couple of hours, and I may just cheat and point you to Sarah's far more observant report right here. With Elyssa on a magazine deadline, we had to rush away to catch the train home, but I had a lovely day away from the drawing board, and in most excellent company.