Eight awnings were grouped together to protect us from the sun’s rays. The heavens had other ideas and torrential rain found ways of getting through the gaps between the awnings, with just one consequence for all of us.

Friends probably have no idea how important their phone calls or e-mails or simple notes are to me. I am very grateful to them.

She describes herself as being lonely. Yes, I expect she is. The only relationships she has are with the fans and with the paparazzi. I must say I wouldn’t want her life.

I have the time to watch television but I have little inclination to do so. My comfort zone is the news and genuine discussion programmes and a bit of nature, music and sport. That is the same now as it was before. The only thing that has changed is that I have the choice to broaden my range. I doubt that I shall. I want to contribute rather than be a passive recipient – and I shall.

I never realised I had so many. I knew I had a few enemies: they tend to make sure that I know that and never forget it. Inevitably the enemies took quite a bit of my time and attention. But being out of touch with so many of my friends, principally through not being based primarily in London, I realise how much I miss my friends. But those with whom we have been in contact have been wonderful.

“I have become a Roman Catholic and I have no sexual relationship whatever.”
I can understand her desperation. Her choice of religious belief to help her is up to her. Total abstinence, however, is sensible to begin with but the Twelve Step Programme of Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous should be able to guide her towards appropriate relationships in future. In my experience with similar patients, the Twelve Step Programme reduces the suicide rate in this fearfully destructive addiction.

The meditation programme that I have been attending has some excellent ideas. Try these for size:
1. An inadequate personal philosophy is unstable and will inevitably implode.
2. Material ambitions create instability and tension.
3. We damage ourselves through our own thoughts and projections.
4. New plans must begin from zero.
5. Ideas are the primary resource.
6. The belief that we should suffer will kill us.
7. We need forgiveness for the past and approval for the future, from ourselves as well as from others.
Reflecting on these ideas, I realise – of course – that they are not actually new at all. However, they do go rather well together.

Two weeks ago I squashed the pulp of my left index finger when putting the headrest back into a car seat. It was a mess of bleeding flesh. Now it is completely back to normal. Just imagine what life would be like if the body did not heal itself so remarkably.

I have been getting to a lot of Fellowship meetings recently. I feel that I benefit from regular contact with other people who work a Twelve Step Programme. From seeing the same faces time after time, I deduce that they share my viewpoint. This is not a psychological dependency but a free choice of action based upon practical experience.

The compiler has his little joke each day. Most of the clues have easy solutions but there is always one word that only Jeremy Paxman or Anthony Howard would know. This keeps me in my proper intellectual place.