Well, that was a bugger of a week. Visiting Russian dignitaries kept me on my toes around Whitehall while BA ensured that getting rid of them would be the final headache of the week. Their faces were a picture of pity when they discovered that I'd transferred their BA tickets onto Aeroflot flights! Isn't it great when proud visitors from overseas would prefer to take 18 hours to get home via Cypress rather than 3 hours on their beloved national airline?

It was Darrens birthday on Thursday but he spent most of that day at work on the Isle Of Wight. We know how to celebrate so, when he arrived home, we ordered huge pizza's and opened a bottle of bubbly (aka Pepsi Max). Today we're off on a day out in central London. Can't tell you where as he might see this post when he rises. Needless to say food is involved and he's been warned to wear a smart shirt (and to put a tie in his pocket just in case).

My Dad has pleurisy. He's on antibiotics and bed rest and is improving. I've offered them the use of our Blackpool house for his recouperation and they seem quite tempted. The parents are getting old now and they seem to be susceptible to more and more illnesses. My Dad has had two strokes in the past 10 years and now has a pacemaker fitted. My Mum has had one stroke (following para-gliding in Greece so what did she expect!), she has late onset diabetes and is mildly epileptic. I must check if there is a will prepared next time I'm in Newcastle.

The Incredible Journey, Greyfriars Bobby and Old Yeller all make me wet-eyed. Steel Magnolias, Beaches and Ring Of Bright Water too. My Dog Skip, Bambi, Goodbye, Mr Chips and Imitation Of Life also. Classic tear-jerkers like Gone With The Wind, Love Story, Terms Of Endearment and The Champ didn't raise an atom of moisture from me. I cried at the end of Titanic but that was from the realisation that 4 hospitals could have been built for the price it took to make that piece of sinking syrup. I remember one Christmas morning watching Watership Down on TV with my Dad while Mum peeled potatoes in the kitchen. She came through to the living room with wet hands and a sharp knife to shout at us for not helping her and found us both pretending we had something in our eyes and wintery runny noses.