YIC met a couple on his last tramp (Simon & Suzy from Auckland) who both confessed to having brought their "engrossing books" on the tramp. YIC hadn't, mainly because he had just finished Tess of the D'Urbervilles which he found less than engrossing (and definitely with no happy ending). However he has rectified the lack of a book by reading in one sitting Alan Bennett's excellent and brief book "The Uncommon Reader". It's about the Queen who takes to reading late in life and all that this entails for her household and subjects. She is inspired by Norman who works in the Palace kitchens and turns out to be a bit of a wag:
Her Majesty: "We're going to Wales in a few weeks' time."
Norman: "Bad luck, ma'am."
YIC is now re-reading it at a more leisured pace, and encourages BN's vast readership to do the same.