Brought to book

THE man who sounds like he's swallowed an entire vat of Tate & Lyle, Irish broadcaster and writer front holes another branch…

THE man who sounds like he's swallowed an entire vat of Tate & Lyle, Irish broadcaster and writer front holes another branch of the indefatigable Ms Hughes's bookstores, this one in Blackrock, co Dublin. Looking well despite his recent bouts of illness, Frank read from his new book She Amethysts and signed two copies for Ritaone for herself and one to be auctioned at one of her many charitable dos.

All was well until someone for whom the season of goodwill is but an abstract theory nicked one of the copies. The culprit, however, hasn't managed to bag a likely Christmas present for someone the booty will have to be kept under wraps until May, as the book is not being officially launched until then.