News Snippets

Snippet number one:

I'm not doing the documentary thing. I cancelled as soon as we got our bad news. I couldn't predict how my life would be over the next few weeks, how I might feel, how intrusive the cameras might be. I'm a little sad about it to be honest, but I'm sure it's the sensible thing to do.

The documentary makers have put me under no pressure at all. They were very caring in their response to my bad news, and made no attempts to change my mind, which they easily could have done. It did cross my mind when we were sitting in the hospital waiting room last week that if filming had already started (it was due to start this week), they might have been rubbing their hands with glee - if they were unscrupulous. But they have shown no sign of being anything other than scrupuful.

Snippet number two:

We're going away for a few days. We suddenly realised a rare thing was occurring: the whole family were available to up sticks and do whatever the hell we wanted. I'm on sick leave, Felix is on school Easter hols, Ally is on annual leave. So we're getting in the car and driving to Wales until Friday. Even the dog. We're all a bit excited.