Ahh, thanks for that Diane! Bet you're right, sort of like Pancake Tuesday I suppose. Is there an official August date for it or does it float around the calendar? I imagine it's not the sort of thing they'd have put in Chambers Book Of Days but I'll have a look. Curious now.

I carry the same images of Charing Cross Road as you do - it was my absolute VERY first view of London when, just off the plane from Amerikay, I climbed up the tube steps of Leicester Square station and emerged into daylight. As pure chance would have it, I had just finished reading 84 Charing Cross Road on the plane, and only a few hours later there I was standing face to face with it - the building, at least. I seem to remember the sign over the door said "Poole's" but it looked either deserted or different from Helene Hanff's shop. If I could have gone in and asked for some arcane rare-edition title, you can bet I would have. Trouble is, I haven't been there in about 20 years, so my Charing Cross Road exists only in memory. If I ever ever ever manage to get my carcass over there, we'll have to meet for a coffee. I suppose everything's changed now?