I suppose this Christmas has been one of meetings: I met Lyn’s brother, paul; Lyn met most of my family; and we both met Adrian. Today was no different. This afternoon, we went to see Lyn’s friend, mark, and a few of her friends near Lewisham. Of course – and I seem to have written this sentence a lot recently – I was a bit apprehensive, but I needn’t have been. Just as my family greeted us on Christmas day, we were greeted warmly. In all five or six people were there: Mark’s mum, Mrs R, is a most hospitable person and makes a damn fine stew. I got talking to a guy called Kieth, covering subjects as diverse as the merits of Star trek Voyager to Foucault. Mark himself seems a very awesome guy whom I look forward to striking up a friendship with.

It has, once more, been a great day. I feel I’ve made some valuable contacts and friendships. Sorry my entries have been largely diary-like recently, when I should be writing about the imminent threats to the benefit system, but this Christmas has been a very good one for me. Besides, I suspect the people I met today will become the dramatis personae of future entries; I certainly hope so anyway.