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‘It’s just that I would like to say how hter I’ve been in here for eleven years and I’ve read everything you’ve written I just wanted to let you know’ I’m speechless ‘And by the way,’ he adds, ‘if you want that bitch of a secretary bue it for you’

I really thought I was going to be sick as I watched hiate Thank God, into another block

500 pm

I’oes for supper I pick up rab a tin of fruit that was donated by Jaht before he was transferred to Whitemoor When I join the hotplate queue, I ask Vincent if he has a tin opener He points to an opener attached to the wall on the far side of the roo before you’ve collected your grub’ I notice that he’s holding a tin of Shipham’s Spam

‘I’ll swap you half my tin of fruit for half your Spam’

‘Agreed,’ he says ‘I’ll bring it up to your cell as soon as I’ve collected my meal’

Once again I can’t find anything at the hotplate that looks even vaguely edible, and settle for a couple of potatoes

‘You ought to go for the vegetarian option,’ says a voice

I look round to see Pat ‘Mary won’t be pleased when she finds out you’re not eating, and let’s face it, the vegetarian option is one of the few things they can’t etable fritter As we pass the end of the counter, another plastic bag containing tomorrow’s breakfast is handed toto the man who has just served me, ‘that’s Peter the press, he’ll wash and iron that shirt for you’

‘Thank you, Pat,’ I say, and turning back to Peter add, ‘My children are co to visit tomorrow and I want to look my best for them’

‘I’ll make you look as if you’ve just stepped out of Savile Row,’ Peter says ‘I’ll stop by your cell and pick up the shirt once I’ve finished serving breakfast’

I move on and collect a Thermos flask of hot water fro As I climb the yellow iron steps back to Cell 29 on the second floor, I overhear Mark, the Arsenal supporter, having a ith Mr Tuck, the officer on duty He’s pointing out, very courteously, that there are no ethnic representatives a those selected to be Listeners, tea-boys or servers behind the hotplate, despite the fact that they make up over 50 per cent of the prison population Mr Tuck, who strikes reement, and says he’ll have a ith the Governor Whether he did or not, I have no way of knowing

When I arrive back on the second floor Vincent is already waiting for me I pour half my fruit into his bohile he cuts his Spaer portion, which I place on the plate next to ivesas I write these words

The cell doors are left open for about tenwhich time Peter the press arrives and takes away my dirty white shirt, a pair of pants and socks ‘I’ll have the toone before I can thank him and ask what he would like in return

My final visitor for the day is Kevin,to be ime is a little bit more relaxed and not quite as noisy I’ to make a few friends – Kevin, Jaet the hang of how Block Three works Kevin sits on the end of the bed and chats as James had warned me he would; but I welcome the company, not to mention the fact that while a Listener is in the room, the door has to be left open