To be honest I can’t decide what I think about yesterday and the assisted dying debate. I thought briefly about going up to Westminster to check out the campaigners, but decided not to as it was too hot and I didn’t want to get worked up. It’s a complex, highly emotional issue: like many disabled people, I worry that legalising assisted suicide opens the door to many dark consequences, such as people being coerced into ending their lives too early. On the other hand, if people have a right to get help to do things they want to do, surely that includes committing suicide: logically we can’t only give people help if we approve of what they are doing.

It’s a dark, thorny issue. I love life: I love living, having fun, going travelling, doing all kinds of crazy things. The idea of ending that, throwing it all away, is noxious to me, particularly after having lost so many good friends, including Lyn, far, far too early. I know full well how dark life can get, but that also teaches me to relish it, and live it as fully and enthusiastically as possible. The notion that someone would choose to end their lives when the world is full of so much potential frankly sickens me. Thus I must admit that part of me was appalled by the sight of the ‘Dignity in Dying’ campaigners cheering on Parliament Square yesterday afternoon – why cheer for death when you should be putting your energy into helping people to live?

But again, this is something I don’t want to get too worked up about. It’s a fraught, emotional issue which people on both sides feel extremely strongly about. I might pop up to Westminster later, just to check what’s going on; then again, it might be a better idea just to go watch the cricket.