Crazy

Kate is staying for a few more days to organise her father’s funeral and plan the memorial. She kindly repaired ‘crazy croc’ - a favourite toy of Juno. She read out emails from his colleagues and students, and University obituary and was surprised to learn that several of his books had won prizes she hadn’t known about. She told me stories of his friendship with Philip Larkin and when Albert Finney, visiting Balliol asked for his tie as it ‘would be perfect for my next role’. Flattered he awaited the next film coming out only to find Finney was playing a dowdy school teacher.

Ukraine is of course on all our minds. Having prepared to go to Moldova yesterday, only to find today someone better suited for that, by late afternoon it was decided I will go to the Ukrainian border with Romania instead. We won’t be setting up programmes ourselves but using our experience in supporting migrants and refugees in Europe and the Venezuelan women walking through Colombia to give technical support on referrals and cash programming. It’s pretty chaotic right now, but I should fly early Sunday morning.

Tomorrow will be a busy planning day.