This has been a fascinating week. After the coincidence of contact from a branch of the Laidlaw family I'd never heard of before, I have found out a lot more details of people, relatives and spouses, children and children's children. One of the photographs of a relative of mine - a picture of him in military uniform in the second world war - was really spooky - in that he looked exactly like my father!

On another tack now. A few weeks ago I read a book by a German author, describing her experiences in East Germany and her incarceration in Hoheneck (a woman's prison) for trying to escape to the West with her husband. She was captured and the book describes the daily events, the institutional terror she suffered, until finally she was released over to the West (paid for by West German marks of course) with her husband. At the end of her book, which I had to read in one sitting - deep into the night - there was an email address, which I contacted the next day. We've been in touch since then, and she's told me about her work with survivors of that institutionalisation, who are still suffering the after-effects - and this is after 26 years. I feel privileged to be in contact with someone who really stood up to authority and insisted on her voice being heard.

The feet seem to be responding to the exercise routine well. Lots more weghtbearing is not causing more pain, so that's fantastic. My mobility is still severely restricted, but they are definitely making progress.

Hoping this finds you all well and happy and relaxed this weekend. Love to you all, Moira x