'Six small notebooks, yellow with blue lettering "Spirax No. 561": bought in Melbourne 1968 - the Indian and Afghanistan notebooks; one smaller with pink cover, bought in Bombay, now lost; eight shorthand notebooks, caramel covers, London 1970-74; one, used during the first American visit, 1972, lost. Entries here have been taken, with some corrections, mostly from seven "London" books.' From Notebooks, based on recorded stories and conversations, aphorisms and Bail's thoughts on art, literature and landscape.