WC NOVEMBER 26.

The week did not have a good start. I got up early on Sunday, made breakfast and watched some of the cricket from Sri Lanka. I panicked around 9am because I had missed my 9-15 appointment at St Mary’s. I quickly dressed and decided to take the car, knowing I could not drive home. Before I got out of Godshill I rang my partner to say I had missed my appointment. She then told me it was Sunday. My appointment was for the next morning.

I made it the next morning, on the bus,  and found out I need a small operation to have a cataract removed from my left eye.

On Tuesday it was with a little trepidation that I went to the opening night of Shrek – The Musical. Would it be my kind of show? It was – and I loved it. It’s at the Mayflower until Saturday December 8. Listen out soon for Laura Main, who is Fiona in the show, on a forthcoming John Hannam Meets. I also love her in Call The Midwife.

I had a busy Friday. I went to give a morning talk at Clarries Club, East Cowes, to chat about my career, early life in East Cowes and my new book. There was a queue for my books at the end of the chat.

I rushed from there to the Red Funnel Car Ferry to meet up with top TV and stage actor Laura Main, who is one of the stars of Shrek The Musical, which runs at the Mayflower, Southampton, until December 8. She is such a lovely lady and has been on my hit list for at least six years. She has appeared in every episode of the brilliant TV show Call The Midwife, one of my personal favourites. Initially, she played Sister Bernadette but later became Shelagh Turner, after marrying the doctor. Listen out soon for our interview on John Hannam Meets.

The next morning I was back in East Cowes for an appearance at the East Cowes Heritage Society premises in Clarence Road for a book signing session. It was so nice to meet old friends and make a few new ones. Luckily, my new book on Islanders is selling well there.