Walked through Hammersmith graveyard this morning talking to Mike Ferg who I met at Victoria. He is being treated for some early signs of cancer but is remarkably cheerful and upbeat about it. Makes you remember that people all around you are dealing with all kinds of challenges all the time.

Work was composed of sporadic writing about breast cancer, a swim at lunchtime and a few bouts of ping pong, in which I lost every game.

Had a very nice evening with Marja and Snairs. Met them at Victoria and went off to eat some fishy Sri Lankan food. Marja arrived first, looking more relaxed and happier than when I last saw her. She is just back from Finland recently and is house hunting as she and her husband are on the verge of divorce.

Fortunately she has lots of capital and so is looking at some swanky places, and has a business wheeze that I didn't quite understand, involving tablecloths and separating newly-rich Russians from their money.

We talked about depression, as her husband is experiencing a lengthy bout of it since losing his job as a master-of-the-universe-style banker last year. Depression can shrink your world down to yourself and you lose sight of, and empathy for, people close to you. I felt sorry for her husband even though I am far from being his greatest fan.

Stunned to hear that Matilda, Marja's eldest, is now eight.

Sarah arrived with a list of houses that Marja must see. She and Frase meanwhile have bought a warehouse which they are going to convert into a dwelling at some point. Sarah's description of "that trendy thirties, artisan warehouse look" made me guffaw. Sarah also complained that she wasn't on my cast of characters side bar on the blog.

They are both top birds and I am very fond of them. Farewells at Victoria after threading through an excitable mob of teenagers waiting outside a club having just received their A level results.

Dozing on the train.