The daughter wanted a Walkman. Now she's got one. When buying someone you love a token gift can make your day. Just the ageing process, I suppose.

25% of the way through two novels. A hard-boiled cop's daughter is abducted by a drugs gang. Or a sensitive young English woman encounters Civil War phantoms in North Carolina. Which to complete first? Decisions.

Told the daughter as she approached her 18th birthday that I was going to have to stop calling her Sausage. She's tall, slender and vegan. 'If you called me anything else, I'd think you were mad at me.' So at 20, the Sausage she remains.

If you like British Film, check out Gerard Johnson. He's doing the best UK based stuff I've seen since The Long Good Friday (and yes, I'm that old.)

'Men are disinclined to cherish.' A line that came to me during the novel I'm currently writing. Feel free to disagree.

The daughter says she's loving her new CD player. Wasn't cheap, but this makes me happier than I can say. Pathetic old man? Probably. Don't care, frankly.

Encounter with two social services people today concerned I might be suicidal. I'm not. Each left with a signed copy of one my novels. Left very happy. Funny old game, life.

'Reply with a GIF.' What if you don't know what a GIF is? Presumably it's an acronym? But for what? Oh, who cares.

Delivered the daughter a CD player yesterday. Brand new, but she likes old tech. Then Hollister. Then Waterstones. Well, I've only got the one daughter.

Met the daughter yesterday to buy her some music at HMV. Had such anxiety, felt moved to explain and apologise. She was very understanding and gracious.

Remarked to the daughter, who has autism, that although she doesn't love me, I will always love her. Not true! She responded. Have never felt more elated in my life.

Have bought the daughter a telescope. 'Field of vision is infinite,' was the line that sold me. What more could you offer a 20-year-old young woman? A visit to Hollister, she would say. And Waterstones. And Lush...

This nonsense about what war correspondents are wearing. Did anyone bother about what Lee Miller wore? Martha Gellhorn? Ernest Hemingway? Robert Capa? Some people just have too little to do and way too much keyboard time.

Writing a novel. People who don't do this probably think it a straightforward process involving plotting and word-count. Well, no. Not when the characters inhabit your mind.

You can get green-Lighted by Hollywood production company. Or messaged by you daughter Avalon (though I call her Sausage) on your birthday. Know which I prefer.

No idea why my home town is called Southport. It's north of Manchester and Liverpool and sited on the west coast of the country. And it was never a port. A mystery.

Really like BBC Radio 4. Great current affairs shows always with illuminating guest experts. But The Archers is an odd anachronism and the comedy shows leaden and unfunny. An odd mix, all told.

Writing a novel in which everything is seen from the perspective of a 20-year-old young woman. Kind, intelligent, principled, feminist. Rather reminds me of my daughter. Have never enjoyed a writing experience more.

Fancied Parker and like him as both a person and a fighter but don't think the stoppage was premature. He wasn't out on his feet, but he was clearly out of the fight. Wrong to blame the ref.