As I am in England for Easter, we were able - belatedly - to celebrate my 50th birthday together as a family. The picture is of my sister-in-law's brilliant idea for a birthday cake. It tasted good too and seemed actually to be bigger on the inside than it looked on the outside.

Today, the celebrations continue as my wife and travel to London to see Show of Hands in concert at the Albert Hall. On Tuesday, it's back to Moscow and work.

For all that I bitch and moan about the state of the nation, I have to admit that - personally - I am a very lucky man.