Long day today... We contrived to miss the ten to six train from Brighton by a few seconds. MJ making the kids laugh (with stories of parrots and swimming hamsters) among all the grey-faced early morning commuters, but a series of sluggish trains and long waits in the aftermath of last week's attacks meant that we also missed the check in for MJ's flight by a few minutes. MJ, Jack and Kate then had to lurk in the airport all morning before boarding another plane. I had to get to work, so it was horrible to say goodbye under such circumstances.

In the afternoon I went to Great Ormond Street where our fundraising ad is being shot by the highly-talented and offensively young guy called Sam. All early signs are promising. Impressed again by the hospital and its staff. I really hope this ad works for them.

Afterwards walked through a hot London in the rush hour till I hopped on a bus to Victoria. Strange looking down at Oxford Circus at newspaper hoardings still talking about the bus bomb half a mile from there.

Home latish, ate cold pizza and cherries, and then up the hill to Anton and Anna to babysit Baby Klauds. Anton had his new job confirmed today, so the threat of not having a job is not over both of them now. They went out for a meal leaving me to read Prevert's Paroles in a bi-lingual version. Really enjoying it. After a while Klauds started crying and I went upstairs and fed her milk, which she consumed like a mad sort of engine, and then walked about with her copiously drooling into my teeshirt till her parents returned.

Home and spoke to MJ briefly, sad that she was so far away again, before I headed gratefully for bed.