Life does not get much better than the moment when, sat in your manual wheelchair, you look up to see your brother pushing you, having not seen him for months. And then you look round, to your left and back, to see your father pushing your girlfriend in her chair. In that moment you realise how wonderful it feels to have such a family, and how great life is in general. Walking through the streets of London yesterday afternoon, Lyn, my parents and both my brothers and their wives with me, it occurred to me what a truly lucky guy I am

It was one of those rare occasions when the guys were all in town: Mark was over from Paris to present his latest paper; mum and dad were down from Cheshire; Luke and Yan live here; so we were all able to converge as a family. It felt great. Mind you, it didn’t quite go according to plan: we had intended to spend the afternoon at the Christmas fair in Hyde park, but the place was uncomfortably busy, so we left, making for a nearby coffee shop. There we talked, my mum feeding me chocolate brownie, bringing back warm, comfortable memories. We then made for the Indian restaurant Luke had suggested. It was a fifteen minute walk, during which I was able to fill Mark in on all the awesome things which Lyn and I have been up to: things like the news of this single, as well as the things I can’t post on my blog.

We ate a truly excellent meal, chatting as we always have done, save that, last night, beside me sat my fiance. It is remarkable when you think about it: sat at that table were physicists, biologists and megastars! And I felt damn proud of each and every one of them, proud of my family, and proud that that family now includes Lyn.

We got a taxi back. We were, I think, extremely glad of it, freezing as it was. As it turned around outside the restaurant, my family waving at us from the pavement, I felt my eyes get damp. I don’t know when I’ll see them again, especially all in one place. I don’t think they were all tears of sorrow, though: some were of fondness; some of pride that I have such an excellent family, but that I am nevertheless now free of them. That is how it should be: it is because of their love and care, and indeed Lyn’s, that I can now live the life I do – independent, interesting, packed with surprise. In short, a life that is wonderful.