1Writing this book has been an amazing collaborative experience, one in which so many people have played their part.

2First and foremost I’d like to thank my family, and my mum and dad in particular, for giving me the sheer bloody-minded determination that has kept me going through some dark times in my life.

3I’d also like to thank my godparents, Terry and Merilyn Winters, for being such great friends to me.

4On the streets of London, so many people have shown kindness to me over the years, but I’d like to single out Sam, Tom, Lee and Rita, the Big Issue co-ordinators who have been so generous to me. I’d also like to thank outreach workers Kevin and Chris for their compassion and understanding. Thanks also the Blue Cross and RSPCA for their valuable advice and Davika, Leanne and the rest of the staff at Angel tube station who have been so supportive of me and Bob.

5I’d also like to thank Food For Thought and Pix in Neal Street who have always offered me and Bob a warm cup of tea and a saucer of milk, as well as Daryl at Diamond Jacks in Soho and Paul and Den the cobblers who have always been my good friends. I’d like also to mention Pete Watkins at Corrupt Drive Records, DJ Cavey Nik at Mosaic Homes and Ron Richardson.

6This book would never have happened if it hadn’t been for my agent Mary Pachnos. It was she who first approached me with the idea. It sounded pretty crazy at the time, and I’d never have been able to get it all down and turned into a coherent story without the help of her and the writer Garry Jenkins. So a heart-felt thanks to both Mary and Garry. At my publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, I’d like to thank Rowena Webb, Ciara Foley, Emma Knight and the rest of the brilliant team there.

7Thanks also to Alan and the staff at Waterstone’s in Islington who even let me and Garry work on the book in the quiet upstairs. And a big thank you to Kitty, who without her constant support we’d both be lost.

8Finally I’d like to thank Scott Hartford-Davis and the Dalai Lama who have, in recent years, given me a great philosophy by which to live my life, and Leigh Ann, who is in my thoughts.

9Last, and most definitely not least, of course, I have to thank the little fellow who came into my life in 2007 and who—from the moment I befriended him—has proven to be such a positive, life- changing force in my life. Everyone deserves a friend like Bob. I have been very fortunate indeed to have found one…

10James Bowen

11London, January 2012