The Bear was very nervous about his forthcoming trip and got himself into quite a state thinking of all the things he had to do to get ready.

He couldn't make his mind up which clothes to take and tried on various combinations of trousers and jackets to ask me if they 'went with each other' as he is colourblind. He had excavated a dark grey suit from the wardrobe and it fitted him very well but he only had brown shoes. We went shopping for black ones and eventually found a comfortable pair despite the fact that ninety percent of men's footwear these days seems to favour elongated toes a bit like stilettos but flattened. Bear was very pleased to find that the more oldfashioned shape still existed but was shocked at the price. Shows how long it is since he bought a new pair of shoes.

After much deliberation the case was packed and the suit discarded in favour of grey trousers and a black blazer. He took his two new pairs of trousers bought recently at Cora, where they have the very practical system of turning them up for you at no extra cost. It means you only have to find the right waist size but as he had misread the markings in his old pair as 40 instead of 48 his first attempts at trying on in the cubicle resulted in frantic calls for help. I eventually found his chosen styles in size 52 and the lady pinned one leg. The only disadvantage with having them turned up to measure was that she was too busy to do it right away. We had to go back next day to collect them.

We collected his new glasses yesterday and had lunch at La Fontaine. The manageress and waitresses wished him a good trip and kissed him goodbye and the owner gave him the address and said he expected a postcard.

It was fortunate that Bear remembered I had his passport in my handbag and he only mislaid it twice after I gave it to him. I only hope he knows which pocket it's in when he gets on  Eurostar.

He was too nervous to eat or sleep but was fairly alert at 6 o'clock this morning. He had asked me to drive home from town twice this week to prepare me for taking him to the station. (Jay had agreed to take him but there you are). I wasn't averse to the practice but felt a bit miffed to think that he hadn't shown much encouragement previously and although he asked how I felt behind the wheel he didn't comment on how well I was doing. OK, perhaps I wasn't driving well in his eyes, but I felt pretty confident and a darn sight safer than when he has driven lately.

He was kind enough to tell me not to wait at the station to see him off so that I could get back home and then phone him. We said our goodbyes in the carpark and I have to admit to feeling just a bit sorry for the lonely figure dragging his case towards the entrance - but also very relieved that I wasn't going with him. I drove through town instead of taking the direct route back - just for the hell of it.

He had asked me several times what I was planning to get up to during his absence. Well, nothing much really: there's wallpaper to strip and gardening to do and then when his brother phoned a few nights ago:

"So he's coming over for a couple of weeks then?"

"Yes"

"I bet you're going to celebrate."

"YES!"