We gave an impromptu evening of discussion in an off-Broadway theatre about Aesop's fables. We placed an empty chair between us to remind people of the third person, Aesop, who was absent.

We gave a talk about the book at Barnes & Noble bookstore in New York and this was taken beforehand with copies of the book piled each side of us. It was a nerve-wracking evening for me as it was the first time I had ever stood up and spoken in front of an audience. Robert was unwell and had to sit down and told me to get on with it! There were several old friends in the audience and a very strange woman in the middle who kept shaking her head in disapproval whenever I caught her eye and mouthing the word “NO”. It really un-nerved me because I thought she must be an academic who was going to prove me wrong. She turned out to be a bit of a nut who asked me about all the animals afterwards and said that they were the important things, not people, and when I asked her name she said very firmly, “Shirley Temple”.

While in New York we went to the Black America Parade in Harlem with Hayley Mills and her boyfriend Firdous Bamji. We came across a copy of Robert's book THE SIRIUS MYSTERY on a small bookstall on the sidewalk where lots of stalls were set up, which Hayley wanted to buy. When the chap selling the books realized that Robert was the author he embraced him and patted him on the back and thanked him profusely. "You have made a difference for us black people" he said, "you have given us back our pride." He was so excited that Hayley couldn't take the book and Robert signed it for him and his friend took this photo. It was a very special moment.

Firdous, Hayley and Robert looking on the bookstall when Hayley spotted THE SIRIUS MYSTERY.

The book stall owner interrogates Robert to find out if he is REALLY the author of THE SIRIUS MYSTERY. His friend in uniform looks ready for trouble if he isn't!

We went to Harlem to have lunch at the famous restaurant SYLVIA'S where they only serve Southern food. I had collard greens and chicken and sweet potatoes and Robert had fried catfish, typical Southern food.

When we returned to the Parade I was thrilled to discover a bevy of black cowboys just about to ride by. They were splendid looking and wore full chaps and denims and spotted hankerchiefs. A couple of them were grizzled and grey and lean as a piece of jerky. Unfortunately there was no film left in my camera. I often think of those cowboys and wish I had a photo of them.