Beirut

Just after midnight a message from Emma. Ulrich was injured in the blast and has bad cuts that have been stitched up, but by some miracle Emma and the children were unhurt. Their apartment is completely destroyed and they have escaped to the countryside.

I feel profoundly shocked by what has happened in Beirut - a city I have visited so often and which is one of my favourite places in the world. Lebanon was already teetering on the edge -,the impact of this will not help.

Later in the day the full impact seems to have hit Emma and they are starting to realise just how fortunate they are.