This morning, I was sitting in the plenary session of the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference, thinking my thoughts and half-listening to the Chairman's opening address, which was followed by obituaries for members who had passed away since the previous conference.

'That's shocking,' I heard the lady behind me remark to her neighbour. 'I was talking to him last night and he looked so well.'

I looked up at the big screen and there, under obituaries, was my name in large letters. I raised my hand and shouted: 'I'm still here!' That brought the house down. The biggest laugh I've ever achieved.

I had sent in an obituary for Robin Lloyd-Jones, a member of my Helensburgh Writers Workshop, but somehow my name had made it on to the obituary list but it was not bad news. Everyone attending the Conference now knows who Eric Thompson is. Best publicity I've ever had. (Wish it could have been for my writing).