Persuasion again on the train. Really enjoying it now. Email with lovely MJ about the scene where Captain Wentworth is talking about his first ship the Asp to an adoring audience of young ladies. He is describing how decrepit the Asp was and how he was happy to get rid of it, but what he is really talking about is Anne who has to listen while feeling old and wretched. That Austen chick could write.

Lunchtime haircut. Nicki virtually my only link with Chiswick now, but going to anyone else would be an unthinkable betrayal. Disturbed when she was doing mirror thing at the end by the slight gleam at the crown. Thinking again how Carl and me were short changed by Bob who showed early promise of becoming pilgarlic but depressingly his hairloss seemed to abruptly stop. It would be justice if I became a total slaphead.

Sunny day, but Brighton was full of thick sea mist when I got back. Set off to the Tin Drum at Seven Dials to meet Mark. Feels like we picked up just where we left off -- despite a 15 year hiatus. Work is stressing him horribly at the moment, and I was able to lecture him on overwork in the way that you can if you have known someone since we were eleven. He is such a nice, practical man who is full of ideas and sensitivity. We drank some unspellable Polish beers and then went a few doors down for some Japanese food. Had sushi and were presented with a large soft shelled crabby thing that resembled HR Giger's baby alien in batter.

We ate it anyway.