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611 am

I wake early and think about hoe on the table in front of raph of Mary and the boys, and another of a view of Parliament from our apartment in London; quite a contrast to the view frorey and threatening rain That’s the one thing I share with you

815 am

Breakfast with Malcoler (murder, twelve years so far) Malcol man called Arnold who absconded last week I recall him from his induction at SMU, a shy and nervous little creature He was sharing a room with two of the most unpleasant men I’ve ever come across One of the the past seven oes, and the other is a heroin addict serving out the last ht to absconding However, if I had to spend a single night with either of those ht have to reconsider my position

830 am

Today I setnotice board in the waiting roo down all thirty-seven notices, before deciding which are out of date, redundant or si notice board Only sixteen survive We then pin up five new neatly printed headings — drugs, education, leave, tagging and general infor the sixteen posters neatly in their correct colu room is clean, thanks to Mr Clarke, and the notice board easy to understand, thanks to Matthew, although I think I’ve also earned my 25p an hour

12 noon

I have to repeat that as far as prison food goes, NSC is outstanding Wendy and Val (her assistant) set standards that I would not have thought possible in any institution that has only £127 per prisoner for three meals a day Today I’m down for the pizza, but Wendy makes me try a spoonful of her laetarian in prison) It’s excellent, and perhaps next week I’ll risk a couple of meat dishes

230 pm

The turnover at NSC is continual Last week fifteen inmates departed, one way or another: end of sentence — twelve, moved to another prison — two, absconded — one So after only teeks, 20 per cent of the prison population has changed Give

While I’ the teacups, Matthew tells overnor has pushed his compassionate leave forward by a day He’ll be off to Canterbury first thing in the , so he can be at his father’s bedside for the next ten days He doesn’t cohts in Canterbury Prison (B-cat), which can’t be pleasant when your father is dying, and you don’t have anyone to share your grief with

430 pm

Another pile of letters awaitstheh, Patrick Moore and Alan Coren Alan’s letter h so much, rather than share snippets with you, I’ve decided to print it in full (See overleaf) All raced with remarkable friends, who have tolerated my ups and downs, and this latest episode doesn’t seem to have deterred them one iota

500 pm

Toym I only write this to make sure I do