I have discovered a real treat – I like them stoneless and eaten complete with the skin.

Somerset Maughan’s wonderful short story of this name is being re-enacted outside at this very minute. The river Stour has burst its banks. I hope that the same does not happen in Canterbury that happened a few years ago in York, the other archepiscopal diocese, when the whole city was flooded.

I am not surprised that the populus opinion poll in the Sunday Times shows the Conservative lead down to 2% and therefore gives the prospect of Gordon Brown staying in power. Two further influences, I believe, are that he has managed to put all the blame for the unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan onto Tony Blair and he really has stuck the “toff” label onto David Cameron. I know that “the economy, stupid” is the only thing that fundamentally wins or loses elections but at present I think the public identify the self-seeking and highly destructive bankers as being typical Tories so the Labour Party do not get the blame that they deserve for mis-managing the national economy. God help us.

“I slept through until three o’clock in the afternoon. Was that alright?”
I’ll say it was. She had done a huge amount of work on herself. She deserved a rest and the opportunity to re-charge her batteries.

Last night, Meg and I went to the wedding reception of my former secretary, Karen. It was lovely to see her married off happily and to meet another two of our former staff at the same time. Some friends last forever.

I remember a time in Los Angeles a couple of years ago when I was offered a concessional rate for something. I was most offended, despite the fact that I was entitled on age grounds. Nowadays I take pleasure in people’s surprise when I ask for one.

Night and more night,
Hope has gone, almost.
Grief remains
And now self-doubt.
What, in heaven’s name, does God want of me?

Can there be dawn?
What would it bring?
Could I cope?
Why ever not?
– If it is what God wants for me.
c.Dr Robert Lefever.

I didn’t realise at the time the appointment was made, that the patient was being referred by the Health Office of a Middle Eastern Embassy. They vary enormously and this particular one is reasonable but there are others who are dreadful. Bureaucracy can be a mixed blessing anywhere in the world.

I don’t often eat it but, when I do, I relish it. But it is so rich that I have to wait a long time before building up the desire to eat it again. Back to fish.

I have discovered that I have a particular talent.