Gloom lifting somewhat today, and feeling somewhat better. Travelled in with Anton who was off again to Paris. Mercifully, once at work I was able to think a bit more clearly, and me and The Gnome slogged all day but at least completed something.

To Basingstoke this evening (called Boringstoke when I worked for IBM and had to travel for one or two particularly loathsome meetings there). This time however was collected at the station by my old school friend Shaila in her shades and large BMW and went back to her new house.

Had an extremely relaxed and pleasant evening, grazing on the vegetarian delights she had assembled, drinking a glass or two of crisp white wine and sitting outside in her little garden on the slope of a hill overlooking distant green fields. It is very grounding to spend hours putting the world to rights with someone who has known you for more than thirty years.