It was not a dream..... in blackpropaganda

Sometime about 12.30 am last night the phone rang. We have an extension in the bedroom but we were both asleep, and first of all I thought it was the alarm, and the worked out it was the phone, sleepily picked it up without thinking the worst, and an old colleague who live some way away said who it was, and he was ringing to tell me he was divorcing his wife. Don't ask questions, he said, I have more people to ring - and he rang off.

I was so non-plussed I found it difficult to tell SW... who it was and what it was about - so I went had had a pee - told her - and then tried to go back to sleep again. My dreams were punctuated by the experience. This morning I was not sure it was not a dream - I called up another old colleague who knew him well - he had had a call too - but this morning.

I know the M, the old colleague, has been seriously depressed, and has always had a volatile relationship with his wife - and I wondered if this was an off the cuff reaction to something. They are not young - and I am not sure he could cope on his own anyway. I sent his wife an e mail saying what had happened - and wondering if it was true. No news so far.

At least it was not a family member giving me bad news.

Off tomorrow to see the family, and to spend some time in London - the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition beckons - and the BP Portrait Awards. Let us hope the weather is kind - no thunderstorms please.