Eggcess!

At this point I can barely reach the keyboard having just stuffed my third chocolate egg into my face. It's been a week of excess.

An excess of theatre - The first birthday performance of "Warhorse" on Monday which I enjoyed it even more than when I saw it the first time. The fifth birthday of "Billy Elliott" on Wednesday night - a fabulous night with a finale of nineteen Billy Elliot's taking to the stage and a great party.

An excess of people using our bathroom. We've had Richards parents staying from Friday and we have had a really fun weekend with them. The great thing about having visitors to London staying with you is that it makes you get out and take advantage of all London has to offer which normally we shun. So we have dined at The Ivy, visited the Tate and generally enjoyed the city this weekend. Sad to wave them good bye this morning.

An excess of kidney disease. Two days of role-play - one in Bristol and a video role-play in Brighton working with doctors and being the patient who has kidney disease. The NHS has its faults, mainly the excessive bureaucracy that runs it, the overpaid managers, and the ridiculous appointments systems that render it virtually impossible to get seen by the right doctor on the right date. Once you are in front of doctors themselves, they are wonderful. The senior consultant who worked with Sian and I on the video role-play in Brighton on Wednesday was just superb and I only hope that if ever I do have to sit down opposite a consultant to receive bad news it is opposite one who has the skills compassion and empathy that he showed. Let's hope that whoever wins the ridiculous carnival that is our forthcoming election has the good sense to support the NHS and let the doctors administer their skills without buggering it up with managers.

To finish let's adapt an old quote that figured in our game of Trivial Pursuit last night

If Gordon Brown fell into the Thames it would be a misfortune.

If someone pulled him out it would be a calamity!