1515 – Job candidate comes over for informal chat re vacancy in our New York office. She makes decent impression. NY are on holiday but inform me from home email over breakfast that other candidates are as good if not better, and offer to send me CVs to inspect. I agree to do so.

1600 – Email friend with op-ed piece in European Voice, accusing him in nicest possible way of pulling his punches on dismal performance of Catherine Ashton as EU High Representative for Foreign Policy. He replies to the effect that it is a fair cop.

1630 – One of our clients calls – their Europe minister wants to drop over for a chat. Drop all plans to do outstanding reports and start doing small tasks that can be easily interrupted. Become unhealthily fascinated by resemblance between former foreign minister of Kosovo and new Italian prime minister (apart from significant height difference). Purge that by doing LJ post about them.

1715 – Minister arrives. Much discussion of imminent strategy which results in phone call to grand old German politican, my assistant meantime researching phone numbers of Spanish journalists in Brussels. Time catches up with us and we leave in a rush for next meeting.

1800 – Normally I try and resist any meetings starting after 1730 but this is unusual, former chief negotiator for Turkish Cypriots is in town to give his impression of how peace process has gone since he (and I) were kicked off that dossier by Turkish Cypriot voters early last year. Özdil in fine form, gives balanced presentation including some self-criticism. But outlook for Cyprus is not good. My mobile phone buzzes with unfamiliar numbers during meeting, I divert them straight to voicemail.

1930 – Meeting ends. Check voice mail. Minister has left his phone in my office which is now locked (my fault really for rushing our departure) and was calling from nearby hotel and neighbouring offices who took pity on him. Coordinate rescue of phone while heading over to Kitty O’Shea’s with former intern who was at Cyprus meeting. Phone successfully retrieved. Former intern has meanwhile bought me pint of Guinness. Consume it and depart.

2015 – Drive home, more Caroline John reading Elisabeth Sladen. By the time I get home Sladen is ASM at Liverpool Playhouse.

2045 – Wife and son have already eaten, sensibly (daughters are elsewhere). Inspect supplies, locate meaty pizza, put on oven, when it is hot install pizza, cook, eat while reading Guardian weekly and listening to homework wrap-up in next room.

2130 – Write this. Still to do Second Doctor post for today. And outstanding meeting reports will have to happen tomorrow. And I haven’t read a single page of any books today, though will probably put that right as I go to bed.