Today has been the start of a long, arduous and very sad journey. Tonight’s leg, of 220 miles, started at 6.15pm after work and took us, along with our beloved babies, JD and Lola, to the refuge of DM’s folks, where this photo was taken, very late at night, on the bedside table of their spare bed.

Despite the unhappy circumstances of our journey, we’ve taken comfort and solace, both from the hospitality of DM’s parents, as well as (for me) from this book which was sent to me in the post by one of my oldest (in terms of the length of our friendship) friends, Paul. He was the person who pointed me at the BBCs list of 100 books to read and comparing our “success” at reading the most titles on the list, we were neck and neck in the mid-50s. We struck up a discussion about it and he talked about Shadow of the Wind, a book I’d never even heard of. I reported that my choice is limited to titles that you can pick up for pence in charity shops these days, thinking no more of it.

A few days later, a package arrived in the post – it contained the book and this little note. I’ve just picked it up and started to read a book for pure pleasure, the first in a long, long time. I must say, like Paul, I love the book. It has stimulated discussion too, because both of my in-laws have read it and, although they ultimately enjoyed it, they warmed to it slowly.

The photo is accidental. I went to bed without a shot, other than a really shoddy shot of a tiny teddy in the room in which we slept. I read a few pages of my book, put it on the side. Turned out the light, then decided that the last thing I’d seen before the room was in darkness was a much more interesting shot and had a much more interesting story than the teddy so I switched the light back on and “hey presto”. It’s a shot of my bedside accoutrements, including sweet note from my long-term buddy Paul. Thanks Paul, for the book. Thanks Maurice and Margaret for the bed and comfort, especially because you are moving home in a few days!