Eileen White, artist

This is Eileen White, an artist based in Winchester. She was exhibiting her work at the Baltic in Gateshead today. She is also my oldest friend: we first met when we were seven.

Eileen had absolutely no idea that we would jump on a train to Newcastle today to pay her a visit at the exhibition. It was wonderful to surprise her.

Thanks for all the good wishes on my health. I'm not yet 100% better, but I am a lot brighter today. We are wondering if I have developed an allergy to shellfish: I was last ill like this back in November after eating seafood sushi at Heathrow airport.

Exercise today: walking 15,460 steps.