Well, here we go then. The book is out. People have started seeing it in shops. There’s no going back now. These are just some of the reasons I’ve spent the entirety of the last week drunk.

The majority of people I know have commented on how excited I must be by publication, while only a very select few have realised that the real emotion is somewhere between dread and something else entirely.

To those people – especially the ones who have fed me whisky, carpaccio and hard-boiled eggs (these are different people, I hasten to add) – I will be eternally  grateful. And to those who have had to put up with me being even more of a cunt than usual in the last few days, I apologise.

Now, then, to slightly less emotional matters… last night saw the launch party of the book at London’s trendy International Bar. In attendance were loads of people from the book, plus stars of stage, screen, pulpit and Scritti Politti. Oh and lots of alcohol.

Despite planning to take thousands of photos, I actually spent so much time saying hello to everyone that I took not a one. Fortunately, others stepped in to the breach, especially Paul Walsh and Zoe Margolis. If anyone else has photos on Flickr of the night, let me know.

I can’t possibly list everyone who came, but I’m really grateful to all of those who did. It really meant a lot to me to see so many people still willing to be in the same room as me. I will, however, give a special mention to Justin Champney (and girlfriend), James Aylett, Scott Rutherford, Simon Prockter and Amanda Rose who all had the stamina to go on to the impromptu after-party at the Roxy. Kudos. Oh, and thank you to Hannah D for the napkin monster. Best. Gift. Ever.

And then this morning – as if by design, if not magic – the book started to appear in shops. The photo at the top of this post was taken by Paul Farnell who stumbled across it in Waterstones, Edinburgh. If anyone else spots it and can be bothered to take a camera phone picture, it’d be great to see how it’s being displayed around the country. Waterstones have a handy list here of which shops currently have stock.

Ok, that’s it for me for now. Except to say thank you one last time to everyone who made all the stress of the last week disappear for a few hours last night.

Thank you.

[Update: More photos, these from Hermoine Way]