1 You are in your concluding week. You will be packing tomorrow (Tuesday) in order to be ready to leave on Wednesday, the first stage of a journey which will terminate in Gatwick at 0655 on Thursday morning. So bring the thoughts together. Look over the notes. Settle on the big issues which are to be discussed in tranquillity. Well, perhaps not in tranquillity, just in East Grinstead as the opportunities arise.

1.1 I have it in mind to be waiting for a text message or a call to say that you have landed. Perhaps one to say that you are on your way from Dubai.

2 I attended a screening at the FR Film Society on Friday evening. I was there at 1930, in good (unexpected) time for the 2000 showing. The new projector was being used. A big crowd. The film? About female hairdressers in Beirut. About lives in Beirut. A film to complement a cup of tea and a piece of apple cake. I have joined, and I reckon to attend. A different experience from the commercial cinemas.

3 To Horsham yesterday. In company with David I visited Molly in the Horsham hospital. I admired what I saw of the hospital. And I admired Molly. She was well. She was wearing a white cardigan. She sniffed the flowers we brought. She was pleased to see us. She may be moved to a residential home for further convalescence. If she is, she may come to like living in the home. Ah.

3.1 In the ward was a 93-year-old woman, also living on her own. I chatted to her. And I'll chat again when I visit.

4 To Wadhurst today. Along the track to the end. Goodbye flatlands. Hello gentle uplands. Hello HighWealdland, not-at-all gentle up-and-down-lands. Rather the reverse. Forty-five good miles. Next week we ride to the area around Handcross. Not so hilly. A suitable ride for the Maid and the Mistress.

More tomorrow

Stayahome.